Whitney, M. R., Ting Tse, Y., and C. A. Sidor. 2019. Histological evidence of trauma in tusks of southern African dicynodonts. Palaeontologia Africana 53: 75-80. PDF.
Abstract - Dicynodonts were a clade of globally-distributed therapsids known for their abundance in the fossil record and for surviving the Permo-Triassic mass extinction. The group had distinctive dental adaptations including a beak and, in many species, paired maxillary tusks. The function of these tusks has long been of interest, yet remains poorly understood.We report here on two instances of unusual morphology in tusk dentine from specimens of: 1) Lystrosaurus from the Karoo Basin of South Africa and, 2) an unidentified dicynodontoid from the Luangwa Basin of Zambia. In both, the cross-sectional shape of the tusk root is lobed and infolded, which histological features suggest is a result of abnormal dentine deposition. We infer that this abnormal morphology is likely the consequence of trauma given its reparative nature and structural similarities to trauma-related morphologies reported in the tusks of modern elephants. This study demonstrates that histological sampling of dicynodont tusks can shed light on the biology of this important clade of therapsids.
Showing posts with label Triassic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Triassic. Show all posts
Examining Functional Convergence Between Triassic Phytosaurs and Slender-Snouted Crocodylians
A new preprint in PeerJ.
The Early Evolution of Rhynchosaurs
Congratulations to Max Langer for being honored with his own rhynchosaur genus.
Ezcurra, M. D., Montefeltro, F., and R. J. Butler. 2016. The Early Evolution of Rhynchosaurs. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 3:142. DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2015.00142. http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fevo.2015.00142/full
Abstract - The rhynchosaurian archosauromorphs are an important and diverse group of fossil tetrapods that first appeared during the Early Triassic and probably became extinct during the early Late Triassic (early Norian). Here, the early evolution of rhynchosaurs during the Early and early Middle Triassic (Induan-Anisian: 252.2-242 Mya) is reviewed based on new anatomical observations and their implications for the taxonomy, phylogenetic relationships and macroevolutionary history of the group. A quantitative phylogenetic analysis recovered a paraphyletic genus Rhynchosaurus, with “Rhynchosaurus” brodiei more closely related to hyperodapedontines than to Rhynchosaurus articeps. Therefore, a new genus is erected, resulting in the new combination Langeronyx brodiei. A body size analysis found two independent increases in size in the evolutionary history of rhynchosaurs, one among stenaulorhynchines and the other in the hyperodapedontine lineage. Maximum likelihood fitting of phenotypic evolution models to body size data found ambiguous results, with body size evolution potentially interpreted as fitting either a non-directional Brownian motion model or a stasis model. A Dispersal-Extinction Cladogenesis analysis reconstructed the areas that are now South Africa and Europe as the ancestral areas of Rhynchosauria and Rhynchosauridae, respectively. The reconstruction of dispersal events between geographic areas that are broadly separated paleolatitudinally implies that barriers to the dispersal of rhynchosaurs from either side of the paleo-Equator during the Middle Triassic were either absent or permeable.
Ezcurra, M. D., Montefeltro, F., and R. J. Butler. 2016. The Early Evolution of Rhynchosaurs. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 3:142. DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2015.00142. http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fevo.2015.00142/full
Abstract - The rhynchosaurian archosauromorphs are an important and diverse group of fossil tetrapods that first appeared during the Early Triassic and probably became extinct during the early Late Triassic (early Norian). Here, the early evolution of rhynchosaurs during the Early and early Middle Triassic (Induan-Anisian: 252.2-242 Mya) is reviewed based on new anatomical observations and their implications for the taxonomy, phylogenetic relationships and macroevolutionary history of the group. A quantitative phylogenetic analysis recovered a paraphyletic genus Rhynchosaurus, with “Rhynchosaurus” brodiei more closely related to hyperodapedontines than to Rhynchosaurus articeps. Therefore, a new genus is erected, resulting in the new combination Langeronyx brodiei. A body size analysis found two independent increases in size in the evolutionary history of rhynchosaurs, one among stenaulorhynchines and the other in the hyperodapedontine lineage. Maximum likelihood fitting of phenotypic evolution models to body size data found ambiguous results, with body size evolution potentially interpreted as fitting either a non-directional Brownian motion model or a stasis model. A Dispersal-Extinction Cladogenesis analysis reconstructed the areas that are now South Africa and Europe as the ancestral areas of Rhynchosauria and Rhynchosauridae, respectively. The reconstruction of dispersal events between geographic areas that are broadly separated paleolatitudinally implies that barriers to the dispersal of rhynchosaurs from either side of the paleo-Equator during the Middle Triassic were either absent or permeable.
Overview of the Triassic Pterosaur Record
Another paper from the upcoming volume on Triassic archosaurs.
Dalla Vecchia, F. 2013. Triassic Pterosaurs. From Nesbitt, S. J., Desojo, J. B. & Irmis, R. B. (eds) 2013. Anatomy, Phylogeny and Palaeobiology of Early Archosaurs and their Kin. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 379, http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/SP379.14
Abstract - Pterosaurs are a clade of highly specialized, volant archosauromorphs recorded from the Upper Triassic to the uppermost Cretaceous. Problematic remains referred to the Pterosauria are reported from the Triassic of Europe and both North and South America, but unequivocal pterosaur specimens are only known from the Alps (Italy, Austria and Switzerland: Preondactylus buffarinii, Austriadactylus cristatus, Peteinosaurus zambellii, Eudimorphodon ranzii, Carniadactylus rosenfeldi, Caviramus schesaplanensis and Raeticodactylus filisurensis) and Greenland (‘Eudimorphodon’ cromptonellus). Pterosaurs are diagnosed mostly by features associated with the advent of powered flight. They are generally considered to be archosaurians more closely related to dinosaurs than to crocodilians, but non-archosaurian positions have also been proposed. There is a lack of general agreement about ingroup relationships, particularly among the basal pterosaurs. Triassic pterosaurs differ from other non-pterodactyloid pterosaurs in features of the dentition and caudal vertebral column. A ‘Big Bang’ model for their early history fits better with the fossil record: the earliest unequivocal pterosaurs show a sudden and geographically limited appearance in the fossil record, as well as a relatively high burst of diversity and considerable morphologic disparity. Absence of pterosaur remains from deposits where they are expected to be found suggests that they had not yet evolved in pre-Norian times.
Dalla Vecchia, F. 2013. Triassic Pterosaurs. From Nesbitt, S. J., Desojo, J. B. & Irmis, R. B. (eds) 2013. Anatomy, Phylogeny and Palaeobiology of Early Archosaurs and their Kin. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 379, http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/SP379.14
Abstract - Pterosaurs are a clade of highly specialized, volant archosauromorphs recorded from the Upper Triassic to the uppermost Cretaceous. Problematic remains referred to the Pterosauria are reported from the Triassic of Europe and both North and South America, but unequivocal pterosaur specimens are only known from the Alps (Italy, Austria and Switzerland: Preondactylus buffarinii, Austriadactylus cristatus, Peteinosaurus zambellii, Eudimorphodon ranzii, Carniadactylus rosenfeldi, Caviramus schesaplanensis and Raeticodactylus filisurensis) and Greenland (‘Eudimorphodon’ cromptonellus). Pterosaurs are diagnosed mostly by features associated with the advent of powered flight. They are generally considered to be archosaurians more closely related to dinosaurs than to crocodilians, but non-archosaurian positions have also been proposed. There is a lack of general agreement about ingroup relationships, particularly among the basal pterosaurs. Triassic pterosaurs differ from other non-pterodactyloid pterosaurs in features of the dentition and caudal vertebral column. A ‘Big Bang’ model for their early history fits better with the fossil record: the earliest unequivocal pterosaurs show a sudden and geographically limited appearance in the fossil record, as well as a relatively high burst of diversity and considerable morphologic disparity. Absence of pterosaur remains from deposits where they are expected to be found suggests that they had not yet evolved in pre-Norian times.
Triassic Officially Loses Status as the First Period of the Age of Dinosaurs Because it Just Doesn't Have Many
The International Stratigraphic Council (ISC) announced today that it was stripping the Triassic Period of the privilege of representing the first period of the Mesozoic Era, otherwise known as the Age of Dinosaurs.
ISC Chairman Dr. Waldo Weatherbee stated that this decision was made based on the general paucity of Triassic dinosaurs. "Let's face it," he said, "Current research is demonstrating that many of the things in the Triassic we thought were dinosaurs are turning out to be all kinds of other types of critters, and the things that are still dinosaurs simply aren't that impressive."
Council member Dr. Geraldine Grundy agreed. "I'm sick and tired of paleontologists turning up little crumbly bits of bone from the Triassic and claiming these are the earliest dinosaurs. Give me a break. Show me some real bones!"
Asked about Coelophysis and Plateosaurus, Grundy plugged her ears and yelled "blah, blah, blah, I can't hear you!"
University of Riverdale paleontology graduate student Reggie Mantle argues, "the Triassic is lame man, there are no cool dinos such as raptors, longnecks, and T-rex. At least the Jurassic has some cool movies made about it, what does the Triassic have? Triassic Attack? How completely lame!"
Fellow student Betty Cooper also agrees, "I can't even pronounce Chromigo-what ever you call it. Dinosaurs should only have easy names like Stegosaurus and Triceratops. Plus, now they tell us that the only cool Triassic dinosaur Eoraptor isn't even a raptor?! Why would anyone study this crap?"
The council voted 312 to 2 to officially dissolve the Triassic and reassign what was the later part of the Late Triassic to the Jurassic (and thus to the beginning of the Mesozoic), and the Early, Middle and beginning of the Late Triassic epochs to the Permian.
Professor Flutesnoot, a noted dinosaur researcher from the Society for Dinosaur Dominance supports these reassignments. "Removal of the Triassic as a valid period of the Mesozoic solves the missing Triassic dinosaur problem that is currently recognized, especially regarding the lack of bonafide ornithischian dinosaurs from that period. Dinosaurs now first appear neatly in the Jurassic and clearly define the lower boundary of that period. Many of us will sleep better tonight knowing that this problem has been solved."
Weatherbee added "You simply can't be part of the Age of Dinosaurs without any bleedin' dinosaurs!"
"This is exactly how things should be," chimed in Grundy, "keep your non-dinosaur bearing units out of the Mesozoic!".
The council also voted 312 to 2 to combine and rename all of the eras prior to the Mesozoic as the Predinozoic and in a subsequent vote of 312 to 0 kicked out their two dissenting members.
"We don't need these bleedin' heart liberal Triassophiles messing up our wonderful timescale and relegating dinosaurs to 2nd class organisms against the desires of our founding fathers", explained Weatherbee.
As of press time the International Subcommision on the Triassic simply stated that they could not possibly think of any intelligent response whatsoever.
ISC Chairman Dr. Waldo Weatherbee stated that this decision was made based on the general paucity of Triassic dinosaurs. "Let's face it," he said, "Current research is demonstrating that many of the things in the Triassic we thought were dinosaurs are turning out to be all kinds of other types of critters, and the things that are still dinosaurs simply aren't that impressive."
Council member Dr. Geraldine Grundy agreed. "I'm sick and tired of paleontologists turning up little crumbly bits of bone from the Triassic and claiming these are the earliest dinosaurs. Give me a break. Show me some real bones!"
Asked about Coelophysis and Plateosaurus, Grundy plugged her ears and yelled "blah, blah, blah, I can't hear you!"
University of Riverdale paleontology graduate student Reggie Mantle argues, "the Triassic is lame man, there are no cool dinos such as raptors, longnecks, and T-rex. At least the Jurassic has some cool movies made about it, what does the Triassic have? Triassic Attack? How completely lame!"
Fellow student Betty Cooper also agrees, "I can't even pronounce Chromigo-what ever you call it. Dinosaurs should only have easy names like Stegosaurus and Triceratops. Plus, now they tell us that the only cool Triassic dinosaur Eoraptor isn't even a raptor?! Why would anyone study this crap?"
The council voted 312 to 2 to officially dissolve the Triassic and reassign what was the later part of the Late Triassic to the Jurassic (and thus to the beginning of the Mesozoic), and the Early, Middle and beginning of the Late Triassic epochs to the Permian.
Professor Flutesnoot, a noted dinosaur researcher from the Society for Dinosaur Dominance supports these reassignments. "Removal of the Triassic as a valid period of the Mesozoic solves the missing Triassic dinosaur problem that is currently recognized, especially regarding the lack of bonafide ornithischian dinosaurs from that period. Dinosaurs now first appear neatly in the Jurassic and clearly define the lower boundary of that period. Many of us will sleep better tonight knowing that this problem has been solved."
Weatherbee added "You simply can't be part of the Age of Dinosaurs without any bleedin' dinosaurs!"
"This is exactly how things should be," chimed in Grundy, "keep your non-dinosaur bearing units out of the Mesozoic!".
The council also voted 312 to 2 to combine and rename all of the eras prior to the Mesozoic as the Predinozoic and in a subsequent vote of 312 to 0 kicked out their two dissenting members.
"We don't need these bleedin' heart liberal Triassophiles messing up our wonderful timescale and relegating dinosaurs to 2nd class organisms against the desires of our founding fathers", explained Weatherbee.
As of press time the International Subcommision on the Triassic simply stated that they could not possibly think of any intelligent response whatsoever.
 |
| Revised timescale by the ISC (modified from here) |
Triassic Literature Recap - 2010
It's time again to list all of the literature published on Triassic vertebrate paleontology in 2010. Most of these papers were announced on this site; however, some slipped through the cracks. Even with those inclusions this list is not entirely exhaustive given the sheer volume of work out there and the plethora of scientific journals.
Temnospondyl studies cooled off a little in 2010 compared with past years, while synapsids and pterosaurs remained hot. Permo-Triassic and end Triassic extinction interval studies continue on a rapid pace. In the world of dinosaurs we had a new herrerrasaur, Sanjuansaurus, and found out that Azendohsaurus was not. I'm always thrilled when new aetosaur papers our published and in 2010 we had a new species of Stagonolepis, an armor histology study, two papers on Typothorax, and a revision of Lucasuchus hunti. Amazingly there were actually two new papers this year dealing with phytosaurs, including a new taxon from the Petrified Forest. The most prominent Triassic reference this year, however, was the new book, "Triassic Life on Land: The great transition" by Hans Sues and Nick Fraser. I encourage all Triassophiles who have not yet picked up this book to do so.
In 2009 the most prolific Triassic author for vertebrate paleontology papers was Cesar Schultz with six papers. This year it is Spencer Lucas with eight. Sterling Nesbitt is right behind with six. Let's hope 2011 is as productive for Triassic research as the past years.
Abdala, F., and Ribeiro, A.M. 2010. Distribution and diversity patterns of Triassic cynodonts (Therapsida, Cynodontia) in Gondwana. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 286:202-217.
Alcober, O. A., and Martinez, R. N. 2010. A new herrerasaurid (Dinosauria, Saurischia) from the Upper Triassic of Ischigualasto Formation of northwestern Argentina. ZooKeys 63: 55-81.
Allington-Jones, L., Braddy, S. J., and Trueman, C. N. 2010. Palaeoenvironmental implications of the ichnology and geochemistry of the Westbury Formation (Rhaetian), Westburyon- Severn, South-West England. Palaeontology 53:491-506.
Benson, R. B. J., Butler, R. J., Lindgren, J., and Smith, A. S. 2010. Mesozoic marine tetrapod diversity: mass extinctions and temporal heterogeneity in geological megabiases affecting vertebrates. Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B 277:820-834.
Benton, M. J. 2010. Archosaur remains from the Otter Sandstone Formation (Middle Triassic, late Anisian) of Devon, southern UK. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association (early online), doi:10.1016/j.pgeola.2010.08.004.
Bonaparte, J. F., Schultz, C. L., and M. B. Soares. 2010. Pterosauria from the Late Triassic of Southern Brazil, pp. 63-71 in Bandyopadhyay, S. (ed.), New Aspects of Mesozoic Biodiversity, Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 132, Springer-Verlag Berlin/ Heidelberg, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-10311-7
Botha-Brink, J., and Angielczyk, K. D. 2010. Do extraordinarily high growth rates in Permo-Triassic dicynodonts (Therapsida, Anomodontia) explain theic success before and after the end-Permian extinction? Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 160: 341-365.
Böttcher, R. 2010. Description of the shark egg capsule Palaeoxyris friessi n. sp. From the Ladinian (Middle Triassic) of SW Germany and discussion of all known egg capsules from the Triassic of the Germanic Basin. Palaeodiversity 3: 123–139.
Brinkmann, W., Romano, C., Bucher, H,. Ware, D., and Jenks, J. 2010. Palaeobiogeography and stratigraphy of advanced gnathostomian fishes (Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes) in the Early Triassic and from selected Anisian Localities (Report 1863-2009). Zentrallblatt fur Geologie und Palaontologie Teil II, Heft, 5/6: 765-812.
Brusatte, S. L., Niedzwiedzki, G., and Butler, R. J. 2010. Footprints pull origin and disversification of dinosaur stem lineage deep into the Early Triassic. Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B., published on line, 7pp.
Brusatte, S. L., Benton, M. J., Desojo, J. B., Langer, M. C. 2010. The higher-level phylogeny of Archosauria (Tetrapoda: Diapsida). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 8:3-47.
Brusatte, S. J., Nesbitt, S. J., Irmis, R. B., Butler, R. J., Benton, M. J., and Norell, M. A. 2010. The origin and early radiation of dinosaurs. Earth-Science Reviews 101:68-100.
Budziszewska-Karwowska, E., Bujok, A., and Sadlok, G. 2010. Bite marks on an Upper Triassic dicynodontid tibia from Zawiercie, Krakow-Czestochowa upland, Southern Poland. Palaios 25: 415-421.
Buchwitz, M. and S. Voigt. 2010. Peculiar carapace structure of a Triassic chroniosuchian implies evolutionary shift in trunk flexibility. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30:1697-1708.
Cerda, I. A., and J. B. Desojo. 2010: Dermal armour histology of aetosaurs (Archosauria: Pseudosuchia), from the Upper Triassic of Argentina and Brazil. Lethaia, DOI: 10.1111/j.1502-3931.2010.00252.x.
Cisneros, J. C., and Ruta, M. 2010. Morphological diversity and biogeography of procolophonids (Amniota: Parareptilia). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 8:607-625.
Cisneros, J. C., Cabral, U. G., Beer, F de, Damiani, R., and Fortier D. C. 2010 Spondarthritis in the Triassic. PLoS ONE 5, 5 pp.
Deenen, M. H. L., Ruhl, M., Bonis, N. R., Krigsman, W., Kuerschner, W. M. Reitsma, M., and van Bergen, M. J. 2010. A new chronology for the end-Triassic mass extinction. Earth and Planetary Sciences Letters 291: 113-125.
Dias-Da-Silva, S., and Milner, A. R. 2010. The pustulated temnospondyl revisited-a plagiosternine plagiosaurid from the Lower Triassic of Brazil. Acta Palaeontlogica Polonica 55: 561-563.
Diedrich, C. J. 2010. Palaeoecology of Placodus gigas (Reptilia) and other placodontids -- Middle Triassic macroalgae feeders in the Germanic basin of central Europe--and evidence for convergent evolution with Sirenia. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 285:287-306.
Ezcurra, M. D. 2010. Biogeography of Triassic tetrapods: evidence for provincialism and driven sympatric cladogensis in the early evolution of modern tetrapod lineages. Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B 277:2547-2552.
Ezcurra, M. D. 2010. A new early dinosaur (Saurischia: Sauropodomorpha) from the Late Triassic of Argentina: a reassessment of dinosaur origin and phylogeny. Journal of Systematic Paleontology 8: 371-425.
Ezcurra, M. D., Lecuona, A., and Martinelli, A. 2010. A new basal archosauriform diapsid from the Lower Triassic of Argentina. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 1433-1450.
Fischer, J., Axsmith, B. J., and Ash, S. R. 2010. First unequivocal record of the hybodont shark egg capsule Palaeoxyris in the Mesozoic of North America: Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen 255: 327-344.
Flynn, J. J., Nesbitt, S. J., Parrish, M., Raniovohartmanana, L., and Wyss, A. R. 2010. A new species of Azendohsaurus (Diapaida: Archosauromorpha) from the Triassic Isalo Group of Southwestern Madagascar: cranium and mandible. Palaeontology 53:660-688.
Fröbisch, J., Angiekczyk, K. D., and Sidor, C. A. 2010. The Triassic dicynodont Kombuisia (Synapsida, Anomodontia) from Antarctica, a refuge from the terrestrial Permian-Triassic mass extinction. Naturwissenschaften 97: 187-196.
Gand, G., De la Horra, R., Galan-Abellan, B., Lopez-Gomez, J., Barrenechea, J. F., Arche, A., and Isabel Benito, M. 2010. New ichnites from the Middle Triassic of the Iberian Ranges (Spain): paleonenvironmental and paleogeographical implications: Historical Biology 22: 40-56.
Gao, K.-Q., Fox, R. C., Zhou, C.-F., and Li, D.-Q. 2010. A new nomammalian eucynodont (Synapsida: Therapsida) from the Triassic of Northern Gansu Province, China, and its biostratigraphic and biogeographic lmplications. American Museum Novitates 3685, 25pp.
Giordano, N., Rigo, M., Ciarapica G. & Bertinelli A. 2010. New biostratigraphical constraints for the Norian ⁄Rhaetian boundary: data from Lagonegro Basin, Southern Apennines, Italy. Lethaia, 10.1111/j.1502-3931.2010.00219.x.
Green, J. L., Schweitzer, M. H., and Lamm, E.-T. 2010. Limb bone histology and growth in Placerias hesternus (Therapsida: Anomodontia) from the Upper Triassic of North America. Palaeontology 53: 347-364.
Heckert, A. B., Lucas, S. G., Rinehart, L. F., Celeskey, M. D., Spielmann, J. A., and Hunt, A. P. 2010. Articulated skeletons of the aetosaur Typothorax coccinarum Cope (Archosauria: Stagonolepididae) from the Upper Triassic Bull Canyon Formation (Revueltian: Early-Mid Norian), eastern New Mexico, USA. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 619-642.
Hu, S.-x,. Zhang, Q.-y., Chen, Z.-Q., Zhou, C.-y., Lü, T., Xie, T., Wen, W., Huang, J. -y., and M. J. Benton, 2010. The Luoping biota: exceptional preservation, and new evidence on the Triassic recovery from end-Permian mass extinction. Proceedings of the Royal Society: B (advance online publication) doi: 10.1098/rspb.2010.2235
Irmis, R. B., and Whiteside, J. H., 2010. Newly integrated approaches to studying Late Triassic terrestrial ecosystems. Palaios 25: 689-691.
Irmis, R. B., Martz, J. W., Parker, W. G., and Nesbitt, S. J. 2010. Re-evaluating the correlation between Late Triassic terrestrial vertebrate biostratigraphy and the GSSP-defined marine stages. Albertiana 38:40-52.
Jaisnoski, S. G., Rayfield, E. J., and Chinsamy, A. 2010. Mechanics of the scarf premaxilla-nasal suture in the snout of Lystrosaurus. Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology 30:1283-1288.
Kammerer, C. F., Flynn, J. J., Ranivoharimanana, L. and A. R. Wyss. 2010. The first record of a probainognathian (Cynodontia: Chiniquodontidae) from the Triassic of Madagascar. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30:1889-1894.
Kemp, T. 2010. New Perspectives on the Evolution of Late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Terrestrial Tetrapods; pp. 1-26 in S. Bandyopadhyay (ed.), New Aspects of Mesozoic Biodiversity, Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 132, DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-10311-7
Kimmig, J., and G. Arp. 2010. Phytosaur remains from the Norian Arnstadt Formation (Leine Valley, Germany), with reference to European phytosaur habitats. Palaeodiversity 3: 215–224.
Klein, N. 2010. Long bone histology of sauropterygia from the Lower Muschelkalk of the Germanic Basin Provides unexpected implications for phylgeny. PLoS ONE 5, 25 pp.
Klein, H., and Lucas, S. G. 2010. Tetrapod footprints - their use in biostratigraphy and biochronology of the Triassic; pp. 419-446 in Lucas, S.G. (ed.) The Triassic Timescale, Geological Society of London, Special Publications.
Klein, H., and Lucas, S. G. 2010. The Triassic footprint record of crocodylomorphs-a critical re-evaluation. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 51:55-60.
Klein, H., Voigt, S., Hminna, A., Saber, H., Schneider, J., and D. Hmich. 2010. Early Triassic Archosaur-Dominated Footprint Assemblage from the Argana Basin (Western High Atlas, Morocco). Ichnos 17:1–13. DOI: 10.1080/10420940.2010.510030
Langer, M. C. , Montefeltro, F. C. , Hone, D. E. , Whatley, R. and C. L. Schultz. 2010. On Fodonyx spenceri and a new rhynchosaur from the Middle Triassic of Devon. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30:1884 -1888.
Liu, J., and Sues, H.-D. 2010. Dentition and tooth replacement of Boreogomphodon (Cynodontia: Traversodontidae) from the Upper Triassic of North Carolina, USA. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 40: 169-184.
Liu, J., and Olsen, P. 2010. The phylogenetic relationships of Eucynodontia (Amniota: Synapsada). Journal of Mammal Evolution 17: 151-176.
Liutkus, C. M., Beard, J. S., Fraser, N. C., and Ragland, P. C. 2010. Use of fine-scale stratigraphy and chemostratigraphy to evaluate conditions of deposition and preservation of a Triassic Lagerstätte, south-central Virginia. Journal of Paleolimnology 44: 645-666.
Lopez-Arbarello, A., Rauhut, O.W.M, and E. Cerdeno. 2010. The Triassic fish faunas of the Cuyana Basin, western Argentina. Palaeontology 53:249-276.
Lucas, S. G., Spielmann, J. A., Klein, H., and Lerner, A. J. 2010. Ichnology of the Upper Triassic (Apachean) Redonda Formation, east-central New Mexico. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 47:1-74.
Lucas, S. G., Rinehart, L. F., Krainer, K., Spielmann, J. A., and A. B. Heckert. 2010. Taphonomy of the Lamy amphibian quarry: A Late Triassic bonebed in New Mexico, U.S.A. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 298:388–398.
Lyson, T. R., Bever, G. S., Bhullar, B. S., Joyce, W. G., and Gauthier, J. G. 2010. Transitional fossils and the origin of turtles. Biology Letters, published on line, 4pp.
Maisch, M. W. and Kapitzke, M. 2010. A presumably marine phytosaur (Reptilia: Archosauria) from the pre-planorbis beds (Hettangian) of England. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen 257: 373–379.
Mallison, H. 2010. The digital Plateosaurus 1: body mass, mass distribution and posture assessd using CAD and CAE on a digitally mounted complete skeleton. Palaeontologia Electronica 13.2.8A.
Mallison, H. 2010. The digital Plateosaurus II: An assessment of the range of motion of the limbs and vertebral column and of previous reconstructions using a digital skeletal mount. Acata Palaeontologica Polonica 55: 433-458.
Mannion, P. D., and Upchurch, P. 2010. Completeness metrics and the quality of the sauropodomorph fossil record through geological and historical time. Paleobiology 36:283-302.
Marsicano, C.A., Mancuso, A.C., Palma, R.M., and Krapovickas, V. 2010. Tetrapod tracks in a marginal lacustrine setting (Middle Triassic, Argentina): taphonomy and significance. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 291:388-399.
Martin, T., Sun, G., and Mosbrugger, V. 2010. Triassic-Jurassic biodiversity, ecosystems, and climate in the Junggar Basin, Xinjinag, northwest China. Palaeobiodiveristy and Palaeoenvironments 90:171-173.
Martinelli, A. G. 2010. On the postcanine dentition of Pascualgnathus polanskii Bonaparte (Cynodontia, Traversodontidae) from the Middle Triassic of Argentina. Geobios 43:629–638.
Mitchell, J. S., Heckert, A. B., and H.-D. Sues. 2010. Grooves to tubes: evolution of the venom delivery system in a Late Triassic “reptile”. Naturwissenschaften 97:1117-1121.
Modesto, S. P., and Botha-Brink, J. 2010. A burrow cast with Lystrosaurus skeletal remains from the Lower Triassic of South Africa. Palaios 25: 274-281.
Modesto, S. P., Scott, D. M., Botha-Brink, J, and Reisz, R. R. 2010. A new and unusual procolophonid parareptile from the Lower Triassic Katberg Formation of South Africa. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 715-723.
Mukherjee, D., Ray, S., and Sengupta, D. P. 2010. Preliminary observations on the bone microstucture, growth patterns, and life habits of some Triassic temnospondyls from India. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 78-93.
Nesbitt, S. J., and D. W. E. Hone. 2010. An external mandibular fenestra and other archosauriform character states in basal pterosaurs. Palaeodiversity 3: 225–233.
Nesbitt, S. J., Sidor, C. A., Irmis, R. B., Angielcyzk, K. D., Smith, R. M. H., and Tsuji, L. A. 2010. Ecologically distinct dinosaurian sister group shows early diversification of Ornithodira. Nature 464: 95-98.
Nicolas, M., and Rubidge, B. S. 2010. Changes in Permo-Triassic terrestrial tetrapod ecological representation in the Beaufort Group (Karoo Supergroup) of South Africa. Lethaia 43: 45-59.
Novikov, I. V. 2010. New data on Trematosauroid Labyrinthodonts of Eastern Europe: 2. Trematosaurus galae sp. nov.: cranial morphology. Paleontological Journal 44: 457-467.
de Oliveira, T. V., Sores, M. B., and Schultz, C. L. 2010. Trucidocynodon riograndensis gen. nov. et sp. nov. (Eucynodontia), a new cynodont from the Brazilian Upper Triassic (Santa Maria Formation). Zootaxa 2382, 71pp.
Osi, A. 2010: Feeding-related characters in basal pterosaurs: implications for jaw mechanism, dental function and diet. Lethaia, DOI: 10.1111/j.1502-3931.2010.00230.x.
Padian, K., Li, C., and Pchelnikova, J. 2010. The trackmaker of Apatopus (Late Triassic, North America): Implications for the evolution of archosaur stance and gait. Palaeontology 53: 175-189.
Parker, W. G., and Martz, J. W. 2010. Using positional homology in aetosaur (Archosauria: Pseudosuchia) osteoderms to evaluate the taxonomic status of Lucasuchus hunti. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 1100-1108.
Piechowski, R., and Dzik, J. 2010. The axial skeleton of Silesaurus opolensis. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 1127-1141.
Ray, S., Bandyopadhyay, S., and R. Appana. 2010. Bone Histology of a Kannemeyeriid Dicynodont Wadiasaurus: Palaeobiological Implications; pp. 73-89 in S. Bandyopadhyay (ed.), New Aspects of Mesozoic Biodiversity, Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 132, DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-10311-7
Renesto, S. 2010. A new specimen of Nothosaurus from the Latest Anisian (Middle Triassic) Besano Formation (Grenzbitumenzone) of Italy: Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia 116: 245-260.
Renesto, S., Spielmann, J. A., Lucas, S. G., and Spagnoli, G. T. 2010. The taxonomy and paleobiology of the Late Triassic (Carnian-Norian: Adamanian-Apachean) drepanosaurs (Diapsida: Archosauromorpha: Drepanosauromorpha). New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 46:1-81.
Rieppel, O., Jiang, D.-Y., Fraser, N. C., Hao, W.-C., Motani, R., Sun, Y.-L., and Sun, Z.-Y. 2010. Tanystropheus cf. T. longobardicus from the Early Late Triassic of Guizhou Province, Southwestern China. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 1082-1089.
Rowe, T. B., Sues, H.-D., and R. Reisz. 2010. Dispersal and diversity in the earliest North American sauropodomorph dinosaurs, with a description of a new taxon. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, First Cite. doi:10.1098/rspb.2010.1867
Saila, L. K. 2010. Osteology of Leptopleuron lacertinum Owen, a procolophonoid parareptile from the Upper Triassic of Scotland, with remarks on ontogeny, ecology and affinities. Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 101, 1–25.
Sanchez, S., Germain, D., De Ricqles, A., Abourachid, A., Goussard, F. and Tafforeau, P. 2010. Limb-bone histology of temnospondyls: implications for understanding the diversification of palaeoecologies and patterns of locomotion of Permo-Triassic tetrapods. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, early online. doi:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02081.x
Santucci, V. L., and Kirkland, J. I. 2010. An overview of National Park Service Paleontological Resources from the Parks and Mounuments in Utah; pp. 589-623 in Sprinkel, D. A,. Chidsey, T. C., and Anderson, P. B. (eds.), Geology of Utah’s Parks and Monuments, Utah Geological Association Publication 28.
Scheyer, T. M. 2010. New interpretation of the postcranial skeleton and overall body shape of the placodont Cymodus hildegradis Peyer, 1931 (Reptilia, Sauropterygia). Palaentologia Electronica 13.2.15A.
Schoch, R. R., Voigt, S., and Buchwitz, M. 2010. A chroniosuchid from the Triassic of Kyrgyzstan and analysis of chroniosuchian relationships. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 160:515-530.
Schoch, R. R., Nesbitt, S., Müller, J., Lucas, S. G., and Boy, J. A., 2010. The reptile assemblage from the Moenkopi Formation (Middle Triassic) of New Mexico. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen 255: 345-369.
Spielmann, J. A., and Lucas, S. G. 2010. Typothorax coccinarum (Archosauria: Stagonolepididae) from the Upper Triassic (Revueltian) Petrified Forest Formation, El Puertocito, Canon del Cobre, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 49: 221-229.
Stocker, M. R. 2010. A new taxon of phytosaur (Archosauria: Pseudosuchia) from the Late Triassic (Norian) Sonsela Member (Chinle Formation) in Arizona, and a critical reevaluation of Leptosuchus Case, 1922. Palaeontology 53: 997-1022.
Sues, H.-D., and N. C. Fraser. 2010. Triassic life on land: The Great Transition. Columbia University Press, New York, 229p.
Sues, H.-D., and Hopson, J. A. 2010. Anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Boreogomphodon jeffersoni (Cynodontia: Gomphodontia) from the Upper Triassic of Virginia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 1202-1220.
Sulej, T. 2010. The skull of an early Late Triassic aetosaur and the evolution of the stagonolepidid archosaurian reptiles. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 158:860-881.
Sullivan, C. 2010. The role of the calcaneal 'heel' as a propulsive lever in basal archosaurs and extant monitor lizards. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 1422-1432.
Tanimoto, M., Utsunomiya, S., and Fujimoto, T. 2010. Osteichthyan teeth from the Early Triassic Taho Formation of Ehime Prefecture, Southwest Japan. Konseki 33: 49-52.
Tintori, A., Sun, Z.-Y., Lombardo, C., Jiang, D.-Y., Sun, Y.-L., and Hao, W.-C., 2010. A new basal neopterygian from the Middle Triassic of Luoping County (South China). Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia 116 (2).
Tourania, A., Benaouissa, N.,Gand, G., Bourquinc, S., Jalil, N.-E., Broutind,J., Battail, B., Germaine, D., Khaldounea, F., Soumaya, S., Steyere, J. S., and R. . 2010. Evidence of an Early Triassic age (Olenekian) in Argana Basin (High Atlas, Morocco) based on new chirotherioidtraces. Comptes Rendus Palevol, early online.
Trotteyn, M. J. and J. A. Haro. 2010. The braincase of a specimen of Proterochampsa Reig (Archosauriformes: Proterochampsidae) from the Late Triassic of Argentina. Paläontologische Zeitschrift. Published on-line May 11 2010. DOI 10.1007/s12542-010-0068-7
Witzmann, F., Scholz, H., Mueller, J., and N. Kardjilov. 2010. Sculpture and vascularization of dermal bones, and the implications for the physiology of basal tetrapods. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 160:302-340.
Zhao, L.-J., Sato, T., Liu, J., Li, C., and X.-C. Wu. 2010. A new skeleton of Miodentosaurus brevis (Diapsida:Thalattosauria) with a further study of the taxon. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 48:1-10.
Temnospondyl studies cooled off a little in 2010 compared with past years, while synapsids and pterosaurs remained hot. Permo-Triassic and end Triassic extinction interval studies continue on a rapid pace. In the world of dinosaurs we had a new herrerrasaur, Sanjuansaurus, and found out that Azendohsaurus was not. I'm always thrilled when new aetosaur papers our published and in 2010 we had a new species of Stagonolepis, an armor histology study, two papers on Typothorax, and a revision of Lucasuchus hunti. Amazingly there were actually two new papers this year dealing with phytosaurs, including a new taxon from the Petrified Forest. The most prominent Triassic reference this year, however, was the new book, "Triassic Life on Land: The great transition" by Hans Sues and Nick Fraser. I encourage all Triassophiles who have not yet picked up this book to do so.
In 2009 the most prolific Triassic author for vertebrate paleontology papers was Cesar Schultz with six papers. This year it is Spencer Lucas with eight. Sterling Nesbitt is right behind with six. Let's hope 2011 is as productive for Triassic research as the past years.
Abdala, F., and Ribeiro, A.M. 2010. Distribution and diversity patterns of Triassic cynodonts (Therapsida, Cynodontia) in Gondwana. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 286:202-217.
Alcober, O. A., and Martinez, R. N. 2010. A new herrerasaurid (Dinosauria, Saurischia) from the Upper Triassic of Ischigualasto Formation of northwestern Argentina. ZooKeys 63: 55-81.
Allington-Jones, L., Braddy, S. J., and Trueman, C. N. 2010. Palaeoenvironmental implications of the ichnology and geochemistry of the Westbury Formation (Rhaetian), Westburyon- Severn, South-West England. Palaeontology 53:491-506.
Benson, R. B. J., Butler, R. J., Lindgren, J., and Smith, A. S. 2010. Mesozoic marine tetrapod diversity: mass extinctions and temporal heterogeneity in geological megabiases affecting vertebrates. Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B 277:820-834.
Benton, M. J. 2010. Archosaur remains from the Otter Sandstone Formation (Middle Triassic, late Anisian) of Devon, southern UK. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association (early online), doi:10.1016/j.pgeola.2010.08.004.
Bonaparte, J. F., Schultz, C. L., and M. B. Soares. 2010. Pterosauria from the Late Triassic of Southern Brazil, pp. 63-71 in Bandyopadhyay, S. (ed.), New Aspects of Mesozoic Biodiversity, Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 132, Springer-Verlag Berlin/ Heidelberg, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-10311-7
Botha-Brink, J., and Angielczyk, K. D. 2010. Do extraordinarily high growth rates in Permo-Triassic dicynodonts (Therapsida, Anomodontia) explain theic success before and after the end-Permian extinction? Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 160: 341-365.
Böttcher, R. 2010. Description of the shark egg capsule Palaeoxyris friessi n. sp. From the Ladinian (Middle Triassic) of SW Germany and discussion of all known egg capsules from the Triassic of the Germanic Basin. Palaeodiversity 3: 123–139.
Brinkmann, W., Romano, C., Bucher, H,. Ware, D., and Jenks, J. 2010. Palaeobiogeography and stratigraphy of advanced gnathostomian fishes (Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes) in the Early Triassic and from selected Anisian Localities (Report 1863-2009). Zentrallblatt fur Geologie und Palaontologie Teil II, Heft, 5/6: 765-812.
Brusatte, S. L., Niedzwiedzki, G., and Butler, R. J. 2010. Footprints pull origin and disversification of dinosaur stem lineage deep into the Early Triassic. Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B., published on line, 7pp.
Brusatte, S. L., Benton, M. J., Desojo, J. B., Langer, M. C. 2010. The higher-level phylogeny of Archosauria (Tetrapoda: Diapsida). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 8:3-47.
Brusatte, S. J., Nesbitt, S. J., Irmis, R. B., Butler, R. J., Benton, M. J., and Norell, M. A. 2010. The origin and early radiation of dinosaurs. Earth-Science Reviews 101:68-100.
Budziszewska-Karwowska, E., Bujok, A., and Sadlok, G. 2010. Bite marks on an Upper Triassic dicynodontid tibia from Zawiercie, Krakow-Czestochowa upland, Southern Poland. Palaios 25: 415-421.
Buchwitz, M. and S. Voigt. 2010. Peculiar carapace structure of a Triassic chroniosuchian implies evolutionary shift in trunk flexibility. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30:1697-1708.
Cerda, I. A., and J. B. Desojo. 2010: Dermal armour histology of aetosaurs (Archosauria: Pseudosuchia), from the Upper Triassic of Argentina and Brazil. Lethaia, DOI: 10.1111/j.1502-3931.2010.00252.x.
Cisneros, J. C., and Ruta, M. 2010. Morphological diversity and biogeography of procolophonids (Amniota: Parareptilia). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 8:607-625.
Cisneros, J. C., Cabral, U. G., Beer, F de, Damiani, R., and Fortier D. C. 2010 Spondarthritis in the Triassic. PLoS ONE 5, 5 pp.
Deenen, M. H. L., Ruhl, M., Bonis, N. R., Krigsman, W., Kuerschner, W. M. Reitsma, M., and van Bergen, M. J. 2010. A new chronology for the end-Triassic mass extinction. Earth and Planetary Sciences Letters 291: 113-125.
Dias-Da-Silva, S., and Milner, A. R. 2010. The pustulated temnospondyl revisited-a plagiosternine plagiosaurid from the Lower Triassic of Brazil. Acta Palaeontlogica Polonica 55: 561-563.
Diedrich, C. J. 2010. Palaeoecology of Placodus gigas (Reptilia) and other placodontids -- Middle Triassic macroalgae feeders in the Germanic basin of central Europe--and evidence for convergent evolution with Sirenia. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 285:287-306.
Ezcurra, M. D. 2010. Biogeography of Triassic tetrapods: evidence for provincialism and driven sympatric cladogensis in the early evolution of modern tetrapod lineages. Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B 277:2547-2552.
Ezcurra, M. D. 2010. A new early dinosaur (Saurischia: Sauropodomorpha) from the Late Triassic of Argentina: a reassessment of dinosaur origin and phylogeny. Journal of Systematic Paleontology 8: 371-425.
Ezcurra, M. D., Lecuona, A., and Martinelli, A. 2010. A new basal archosauriform diapsid from the Lower Triassic of Argentina. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 1433-1450.
Fischer, J., Axsmith, B. J., and Ash, S. R. 2010. First unequivocal record of the hybodont shark egg capsule Palaeoxyris in the Mesozoic of North America: Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen 255: 327-344.
Flynn, J. J., Nesbitt, S. J., Parrish, M., Raniovohartmanana, L., and Wyss, A. R. 2010. A new species of Azendohsaurus (Diapaida: Archosauromorpha) from the Triassic Isalo Group of Southwestern Madagascar: cranium and mandible. Palaeontology 53:660-688.
Fröbisch, J., Angiekczyk, K. D., and Sidor, C. A. 2010. The Triassic dicynodont Kombuisia (Synapsida, Anomodontia) from Antarctica, a refuge from the terrestrial Permian-Triassic mass extinction. Naturwissenschaften 97: 187-196.
Gand, G., De la Horra, R., Galan-Abellan, B., Lopez-Gomez, J., Barrenechea, J. F., Arche, A., and Isabel Benito, M. 2010. New ichnites from the Middle Triassic of the Iberian Ranges (Spain): paleonenvironmental and paleogeographical implications: Historical Biology 22: 40-56.
Gao, K.-Q., Fox, R. C., Zhou, C.-F., and Li, D.-Q. 2010. A new nomammalian eucynodont (Synapsida: Therapsida) from the Triassic of Northern Gansu Province, China, and its biostratigraphic and biogeographic lmplications. American Museum Novitates 3685, 25pp.
Giordano, N., Rigo, M., Ciarapica G. & Bertinelli A. 2010. New biostratigraphical constraints for the Norian ⁄Rhaetian boundary: data from Lagonegro Basin, Southern Apennines, Italy. Lethaia, 10.1111/j.1502-3931.2010.00219.x.
Green, J. L., Schweitzer, M. H., and Lamm, E.-T. 2010. Limb bone histology and growth in Placerias hesternus (Therapsida: Anomodontia) from the Upper Triassic of North America. Palaeontology 53: 347-364.
Heckert, A. B., Lucas, S. G., Rinehart, L. F., Celeskey, M. D., Spielmann, J. A., and Hunt, A. P. 2010. Articulated skeletons of the aetosaur Typothorax coccinarum Cope (Archosauria: Stagonolepididae) from the Upper Triassic Bull Canyon Formation (Revueltian: Early-Mid Norian), eastern New Mexico, USA. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 619-642.
Hu, S.-x,. Zhang, Q.-y., Chen, Z.-Q., Zhou, C.-y., Lü, T., Xie, T., Wen, W., Huang, J. -y., and M. J. Benton, 2010. The Luoping biota: exceptional preservation, and new evidence on the Triassic recovery from end-Permian mass extinction. Proceedings of the Royal Society: B (advance online publication) doi: 10.1098/rspb.2010.2235
Irmis, R. B., and Whiteside, J. H., 2010. Newly integrated approaches to studying Late Triassic terrestrial ecosystems. Palaios 25: 689-691.
Irmis, R. B., Martz, J. W., Parker, W. G., and Nesbitt, S. J. 2010. Re-evaluating the correlation between Late Triassic terrestrial vertebrate biostratigraphy and the GSSP-defined marine stages. Albertiana 38:40-52.
Jaisnoski, S. G., Rayfield, E. J., and Chinsamy, A. 2010. Mechanics of the scarf premaxilla-nasal suture in the snout of Lystrosaurus. Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology 30:1283-1288.
Kammerer, C. F., Flynn, J. J., Ranivoharimanana, L. and A. R. Wyss. 2010. The first record of a probainognathian (Cynodontia: Chiniquodontidae) from the Triassic of Madagascar. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30:1889-1894.
Kemp, T. 2010. New Perspectives on the Evolution of Late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Terrestrial Tetrapods; pp. 1-26 in S. Bandyopadhyay (ed.), New Aspects of Mesozoic Biodiversity, Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 132, DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-10311-7
Kimmig, J., and G. Arp. 2010. Phytosaur remains from the Norian Arnstadt Formation (Leine Valley, Germany), with reference to European phytosaur habitats. Palaeodiversity 3: 215–224.
Klein, N. 2010. Long bone histology of sauropterygia from the Lower Muschelkalk of the Germanic Basin Provides unexpected implications for phylgeny. PLoS ONE 5, 25 pp.
Klein, H., and Lucas, S. G. 2010. Tetrapod footprints - their use in biostratigraphy and biochronology of the Triassic; pp. 419-446 in Lucas, S.G. (ed.) The Triassic Timescale, Geological Society of London, Special Publications.
Klein, H., and Lucas, S. G. 2010. The Triassic footprint record of crocodylomorphs-a critical re-evaluation. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 51:55-60.
Klein, H., Voigt, S., Hminna, A., Saber, H., Schneider, J., and D. Hmich. 2010. Early Triassic Archosaur-Dominated Footprint Assemblage from the Argana Basin (Western High Atlas, Morocco). Ichnos 17:1–13. DOI: 10.1080/10420940.2010.510030
Langer, M. C. , Montefeltro, F. C. , Hone, D. E. , Whatley, R. and C. L. Schultz. 2010. On Fodonyx spenceri and a new rhynchosaur from the Middle Triassic of Devon. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30:1884 -1888.
Liu, J., and Sues, H.-D. 2010. Dentition and tooth replacement of Boreogomphodon (Cynodontia: Traversodontidae) from the Upper Triassic of North Carolina, USA. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 40: 169-184.
Liu, J., and Olsen, P. 2010. The phylogenetic relationships of Eucynodontia (Amniota: Synapsada). Journal of Mammal Evolution 17: 151-176.
Liutkus, C. M., Beard, J. S., Fraser, N. C., and Ragland, P. C. 2010. Use of fine-scale stratigraphy and chemostratigraphy to evaluate conditions of deposition and preservation of a Triassic Lagerstätte, south-central Virginia. Journal of Paleolimnology 44: 645-666.
Lopez-Arbarello, A., Rauhut, O.W.M, and E. Cerdeno. 2010. The Triassic fish faunas of the Cuyana Basin, western Argentina. Palaeontology 53:249-276.
Lucas, S. G., Spielmann, J. A., Klein, H., and Lerner, A. J. 2010. Ichnology of the Upper Triassic (Apachean) Redonda Formation, east-central New Mexico. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 47:1-74.
Lucas, S. G., Rinehart, L. F., Krainer, K., Spielmann, J. A., and A. B. Heckert. 2010. Taphonomy of the Lamy amphibian quarry: A Late Triassic bonebed in New Mexico, U.S.A. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 298:388–398.
Lyson, T. R., Bever, G. S., Bhullar, B. S., Joyce, W. G., and Gauthier, J. G. 2010. Transitional fossils and the origin of turtles. Biology Letters, published on line, 4pp.
Maisch, M. W. and Kapitzke, M. 2010. A presumably marine phytosaur (Reptilia: Archosauria) from the pre-planorbis beds (Hettangian) of England. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen 257: 373–379.
Mallison, H. 2010. The digital Plateosaurus 1: body mass, mass distribution and posture assessd using CAD and CAE on a digitally mounted complete skeleton. Palaeontologia Electronica 13.2.8A.
Mallison, H. 2010. The digital Plateosaurus II: An assessment of the range of motion of the limbs and vertebral column and of previous reconstructions using a digital skeletal mount. Acata Palaeontologica Polonica 55: 433-458.
Mannion, P. D., and Upchurch, P. 2010. Completeness metrics and the quality of the sauropodomorph fossil record through geological and historical time. Paleobiology 36:283-302.
Marsicano, C.A., Mancuso, A.C., Palma, R.M., and Krapovickas, V. 2010. Tetrapod tracks in a marginal lacustrine setting (Middle Triassic, Argentina): taphonomy and significance. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 291:388-399.
Martin, T., Sun, G., and Mosbrugger, V. 2010. Triassic-Jurassic biodiversity, ecosystems, and climate in the Junggar Basin, Xinjinag, northwest China. Palaeobiodiveristy and Palaeoenvironments 90:171-173.
Martinelli, A. G. 2010. On the postcanine dentition of Pascualgnathus polanskii Bonaparte (Cynodontia, Traversodontidae) from the Middle Triassic of Argentina. Geobios 43:629–638.
Mitchell, J. S., Heckert, A. B., and H.-D. Sues. 2010. Grooves to tubes: evolution of the venom delivery system in a Late Triassic “reptile”. Naturwissenschaften 97:1117-1121.
Modesto, S. P., and Botha-Brink, J. 2010. A burrow cast with Lystrosaurus skeletal remains from the Lower Triassic of South Africa. Palaios 25: 274-281.
Modesto, S. P., Scott, D. M., Botha-Brink, J, and Reisz, R. R. 2010. A new and unusual procolophonid parareptile from the Lower Triassic Katberg Formation of South Africa. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 715-723.
Mukherjee, D., Ray, S., and Sengupta, D. P. 2010. Preliminary observations on the bone microstucture, growth patterns, and life habits of some Triassic temnospondyls from India. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 78-93.
Nesbitt, S. J., and D. W. E. Hone. 2010. An external mandibular fenestra and other archosauriform character states in basal pterosaurs. Palaeodiversity 3: 225–233.
Nesbitt, S. J., Sidor, C. A., Irmis, R. B., Angielcyzk, K. D., Smith, R. M. H., and Tsuji, L. A. 2010. Ecologically distinct dinosaurian sister group shows early diversification of Ornithodira. Nature 464: 95-98.
Nicolas, M., and Rubidge, B. S. 2010. Changes in Permo-Triassic terrestrial tetrapod ecological representation in the Beaufort Group (Karoo Supergroup) of South Africa. Lethaia 43: 45-59.
Novikov, I. V. 2010. New data on Trematosauroid Labyrinthodonts of Eastern Europe: 2. Trematosaurus galae sp. nov.: cranial morphology. Paleontological Journal 44: 457-467.
de Oliveira, T. V., Sores, M. B., and Schultz, C. L. 2010. Trucidocynodon riograndensis gen. nov. et sp. nov. (Eucynodontia), a new cynodont from the Brazilian Upper Triassic (Santa Maria Formation). Zootaxa 2382, 71pp.
Osi, A. 2010: Feeding-related characters in basal pterosaurs: implications for jaw mechanism, dental function and diet. Lethaia, DOI: 10.1111/j.1502-3931.2010.00230.x.
Padian, K., Li, C., and Pchelnikova, J. 2010. The trackmaker of Apatopus (Late Triassic, North America): Implications for the evolution of archosaur stance and gait. Palaeontology 53: 175-189.
Parker, W. G., and Martz, J. W. 2010. Using positional homology in aetosaur (Archosauria: Pseudosuchia) osteoderms to evaluate the taxonomic status of Lucasuchus hunti. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 1100-1108.
Piechowski, R., and Dzik, J. 2010. The axial skeleton of Silesaurus opolensis. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 1127-1141.
Ray, S., Bandyopadhyay, S., and R. Appana. 2010. Bone Histology of a Kannemeyeriid Dicynodont Wadiasaurus: Palaeobiological Implications; pp. 73-89 in S. Bandyopadhyay (ed.), New Aspects of Mesozoic Biodiversity, Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 132, DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-10311-7
Renesto, S. 2010. A new specimen of Nothosaurus from the Latest Anisian (Middle Triassic) Besano Formation (Grenzbitumenzone) of Italy: Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia 116: 245-260.
Renesto, S., Spielmann, J. A., Lucas, S. G., and Spagnoli, G. T. 2010. The taxonomy and paleobiology of the Late Triassic (Carnian-Norian: Adamanian-Apachean) drepanosaurs (Diapsida: Archosauromorpha: Drepanosauromorpha). New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 46:1-81.
Rieppel, O., Jiang, D.-Y., Fraser, N. C., Hao, W.-C., Motani, R., Sun, Y.-L., and Sun, Z.-Y. 2010. Tanystropheus cf. T. longobardicus from the Early Late Triassic of Guizhou Province, Southwestern China. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 1082-1089.
Rowe, T. B., Sues, H.-D., and R. Reisz. 2010. Dispersal and diversity in the earliest North American sauropodomorph dinosaurs, with a description of a new taxon. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, First Cite. doi:10.1098/rspb.2010.1867
Saila, L. K. 2010. Osteology of Leptopleuron lacertinum Owen, a procolophonoid parareptile from the Upper Triassic of Scotland, with remarks on ontogeny, ecology and affinities. Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 101, 1–25.
Sanchez, S., Germain, D., De Ricqles, A., Abourachid, A., Goussard, F. and Tafforeau, P. 2010. Limb-bone histology of temnospondyls: implications for understanding the diversification of palaeoecologies and patterns of locomotion of Permo-Triassic tetrapods. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, early online. doi:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02081.x
Santucci, V. L., and Kirkland, J. I. 2010. An overview of National Park Service Paleontological Resources from the Parks and Mounuments in Utah; pp. 589-623 in Sprinkel, D. A,. Chidsey, T. C., and Anderson, P. B. (eds.), Geology of Utah’s Parks and Monuments, Utah Geological Association Publication 28.
Scheyer, T. M. 2010. New interpretation of the postcranial skeleton and overall body shape of the placodont Cymodus hildegradis Peyer, 1931 (Reptilia, Sauropterygia). Palaentologia Electronica 13.2.15A.
Schoch, R. R., Voigt, S., and Buchwitz, M. 2010. A chroniosuchid from the Triassic of Kyrgyzstan and analysis of chroniosuchian relationships. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 160:515-530.
Schoch, R. R., Nesbitt, S., Müller, J., Lucas, S. G., and Boy, J. A., 2010. The reptile assemblage from the Moenkopi Formation (Middle Triassic) of New Mexico. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen 255: 345-369.
Spielmann, J. A., and Lucas, S. G. 2010. Typothorax coccinarum (Archosauria: Stagonolepididae) from the Upper Triassic (Revueltian) Petrified Forest Formation, El Puertocito, Canon del Cobre, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 49: 221-229.
Stocker, M. R. 2010. A new taxon of phytosaur (Archosauria: Pseudosuchia) from the Late Triassic (Norian) Sonsela Member (Chinle Formation) in Arizona, and a critical reevaluation of Leptosuchus Case, 1922. Palaeontology 53: 997-1022.
Sues, H.-D., and N. C. Fraser. 2010. Triassic life on land: The Great Transition. Columbia University Press, New York, 229p.
Sues, H.-D., and Hopson, J. A. 2010. Anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Boreogomphodon jeffersoni (Cynodontia: Gomphodontia) from the Upper Triassic of Virginia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 1202-1220.
Sulej, T. 2010. The skull of an early Late Triassic aetosaur and the evolution of the stagonolepidid archosaurian reptiles. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 158:860-881.
Sullivan, C. 2010. The role of the calcaneal 'heel' as a propulsive lever in basal archosaurs and extant monitor lizards. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 1422-1432.
Tanimoto, M., Utsunomiya, S., and Fujimoto, T. 2010. Osteichthyan teeth from the Early Triassic Taho Formation of Ehime Prefecture, Southwest Japan. Konseki 33: 49-52.
Tintori, A., Sun, Z.-Y., Lombardo, C., Jiang, D.-Y., Sun, Y.-L., and Hao, W.-C., 2010. A new basal neopterygian from the Middle Triassic of Luoping County (South China). Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia 116 (2).
Tourania, A., Benaouissa, N.,Gand, G., Bourquinc, S., Jalil, N.-E., Broutind,J., Battail, B., Germaine, D., Khaldounea, F., Soumaya, S., Steyere, J. S., and R. . 2010. Evidence of an Early Triassic age (Olenekian) in Argana Basin (High Atlas, Morocco) based on new chirotherioidtraces. Comptes Rendus Palevol, early online.
Trotteyn, M. J. and J. A. Haro. 2010. The braincase of a specimen of Proterochampsa Reig (Archosauriformes: Proterochampsidae) from the Late Triassic of Argentina. Paläontologische Zeitschrift. Published on-line May 11 2010. DOI 10.1007/s12542-010-0068-7
Witzmann, F., Scholz, H., Mueller, J., and N. Kardjilov. 2010. Sculpture and vascularization of dermal bones, and the implications for the physiology of basal tetrapods. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 160:302-340.
Zhao, L.-J., Sato, T., Liu, J., Li, C., and X.-C. Wu. 2010. A new skeleton of Miodentosaurus brevis (Diapsida:Thalattosauria) with a further study of the taxon. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 48:1-10.
Recent Triassic-themed Blog Posts
Many of you may have already seen these, while others may have missed out. These are all definitely worth a read.
Phytodinosauria returns!
http://theropoda.blogspot.com/2010/08/coming-soon-triassic-phythodinosaurs-or.html
South American Basal Saurichians
http://theropoddatabase.blogspot.com/2010/08/brief-thoughts-on-chromogisaurus-and.html
http://theropoda.blogspot.com/2010/08/chromogisaurus-novasi-ezcurra-2010-ed.html
http://chasmosaurs.blogspot.com/2010/08/cheerio-chromogisaurus.html
Dicynodonts
http://chasmosaurs.blogspot.com/2010/08/dicynodonts-other-white-meat.html
[Sorry for any other recent Triassic posts I have missed]
Phytodinosauria returns!
http://theropoda.blogspot.com/2010/08/coming-soon-triassic-phythodinosaurs-or.html
South American Basal Saurichians
http://theropoddatabase.blogspot.com/2010/08/brief-thoughts-on-chromogisaurus-and.html
http://theropoda.blogspot.com/2010/08/chromogisaurus-novasi-ezcurra-2010-ed.html
http://chasmosaurs.blogspot.com/2010/08/cheerio-chromogisaurus.html
Dicynodonts
http://chasmosaurs.blogspot.com/2010/08/dicynodonts-other-white-meat.html
[Sorry for any other recent Triassic posts I have missed]
Recent Triassic Posts at Other Blogs
First, Dr. Hans Sues covers the conclusions of two recent papers on the rise of the dinosaurs in the Triassic:
http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2010/06/rise-of-dinosaurs.html
Next up, Mickey Mortimer suggests that the indeterminate archosauriform Arctosaurus, known from a single incomplete vertebra from the Late Triassic of Nunavut, Canada may actually be a poposaurid:
http://theropoddatabase.blogspot.com/2010/06/arctosaurus-poposaurid.html
http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2010/06/rise-of-dinosaurs.html
Next up, Mickey Mortimer suggests that the indeterminate archosauriform Arctosaurus, known from a single incomplete vertebra from the Late Triassic of Nunavut, Canada may actually be a poposaurid:
http://theropoddatabase.blogspot.com/2010/06/arctosaurus-poposaurid.html
Triassic Life on Land: The Great Transition
Now I'm going to go do some more work so Hans and Nick will be forced to do an updated second edition next year ;).
Sues, H.-D., and N. C. Fraser. 2010. Triassic life on land: The Great Transistion. Columbia University Press, New York, 229p.
P.S. Why is there no aetosaur on the cover? Maybe it is hiding?
Lots of Triassic Themed Presentations at the Annual Geological Society of America Meeting
What can I say, the Triassic is hot right now especially dinosaur origins and the Late Triassic of the American Southwest (of course temnospondyls and marine reptiles always seem to be happening). On Monday I pointed out that over 60 presentations at this years annual SVP meeting dealt with the Triassic. Now the abstracts for the 2009 annual meeting of the Geological Society of America are available online. Again quite a few Triassic presentations. The hot topics for that meeting appear to be the Triassic/Jurassic transition, and U-Pb dates for the Chinle Formation. There is quite a debate growing between those who accept the recent hypothesis of a long Norian (with all of the Chinle being Norian in age) and those who favor the traditional Carnian-Norian split of the Chinle. You can read some of my thoughts on this here and here.
Another Triassic Blog
This is a new Triassic themed blog that I just discovered... Malaysian Triassic Blog ... all about the Triassic of Malaysia!
Check it out.
Check it out.
This Year's SVP Meeting is Going to be a Triassic-fest
Wow! The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology made the abstract book for their annual meeting available on-line today to members and registrants. I spent a bit of time glancing through the hundreds of abstracts and could not help but notice the large number of Triassic-themed talks. Of course it helps that there will be a Triassic themed symposium this year (Late Triassic Terrestrial Biotas and the Rise of Dinosaurs); however, not counting the 15 presentations associated with this event I counted no less than 48 ADDITIONAL presentations on Triassic fossils. Read again....more than 60 Triassic-themed presentations. The coverage ranges from fish and amphibians to marine reptiles and therapsids; however, there are numerous presentations on archosauromorph groups including pseudosuchians and early dinosaurs.
Unfortunately I cannot give details of the presentations here (there is an embargo until the meeting); however, I'm glad that I am attending this year (Bristol, UK) because it is going to be an absolute blast to attend the majority of these presentations and to chat with all of my Triassic (and other) colleagues.
Unfortunately I cannot give details of the presentations here (there is an embargo until the meeting); however, I'm glad that I am attending this year (Bristol, UK) because it is going to be an absolute blast to attend the majority of these presentations and to chat with all of my Triassic (and other) colleagues.
New Issue of Albertiana Out - Triassic Stratigraphy Newsletter/Journal
From its official webpage, "Albertiana is the newsletter of the Subcommision on Triassic stratigraphy". This subcommision is responsible for establishing a standard, global stratigraphic scale for the Triassic system. Albertiana is published twice a year (usually) and features reports on conferences, news items, special reports, bibliographies, etc.. all dealing with the Triassic. The website includes free access to recent and current issues. The newest issue was just released and you can access it here.
While you are at it check out the subcommision on Triassic stratigraphy webpage here.
While you are at it check out the subcommision on Triassic stratigraphy webpage here.
Triassic Literature Recap - 2008
2008 was an excellent year for new and exciting infomation on the Triassic. Some highlights included two new (and somewhat conflicting) basal turtle discoveries, several new temnospondyls, a reexamination of "dinosaur superiority", ethical controversy, and finally several important dissertations. These dissertations as well as published abstracts promise that 2009 will be just as exciting.
This is not an entirely exhaustive list, but hopefully fairly complete. It does not include all geological papers or invertebrates. It was also cross-checked with Tracy Ford's dinohunter site.
By the way...the most prolific author for Triassic VP in 2008 is...... Mike Benton with five papers.
2008 Triassic Vertebrate Paleontology Literature
Brusatte, S.L., Benton, M.J., Ruta, M., and G.T. Lloyd. 2008. Superiority, competition, and opportunism in the evolutionary radiation of dinosaurs. Science 321:1485-1488.
Brusatte, S. L., Benton, M. J., Ruta, M., and G. T. Lloyd. 2008. The first 50 Myr of dinosaur evolution: macroevolutionary pattern and morphological disparity. Biology Letters, published online, 4pp.
Buffetaut, E., and M. Novak. 2008. A cyamodont placodont (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) from the Triassic of Solovenia. Palaeontology 51:1301-1306.
Butler, R. J., Upchurch, P., and D. B. Norman. 2008. The phylogeny of the ornithischian dinosaurs. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 4:1-40.
Cisneros, J. C. 2008. Taxonomic status of the reptile genus Procolophon from the Gondwanana Triassic. Palaeontographic Africana 43:7-17.
Cisneros, J. C. 2008. Phylogenetic relationships of procolophonid parareptiles with remarks on thier geological record. Journal of Systematic Paleontology 6:345-366.
Cisneros, J. C. 2008. New basal procolophonid reptile from the Katberg formation (Lower Triassic) of the South African Karoo. Paleoworld 17:126-134.
Cleveland D. M., Nordt, L. C., and S. C. Atchley. 2008. Paleosols, trace fossils, and precipitation estimates of the uppermost Triassic strata in northern New Mexico. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 257:421-444.
Dalton, R. 2008. Fossil reptiles mired in controversy. Nature 451:510.
Damiani, R. 2008. A giant skull of the temnospondyl Xenotosuchus africanus from the Middle Triassic of South Aferica and its ontogenetic implications. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 53:75-84.
Dias-da-Silva, S., Dias, E.V., and C.L. Schultz. 2009. First record of stereospondyls (Tetrapoda, Temnospondyli) in the Upper Triassic of Southern Brazil. Gondwana Research 15:131-136.
Diedrich, C. 2008. Millions of reptile tracks – Early to Middle Triassic carbonate tidal flat migration bridges of Central Europe – reptile immigration into the Germanic basin. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 259:410-423.
Dzik, J., Sulej, T., and G. Niedźwiedzki. 2008. A dicynodont−theropod association in the latest Triassic of Poland. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 53:733–738.
Galton, P. M. 2008. Notes on the remains of archosaurian reptiles, mostly basal sauropodomorph dinosaurs, from the 1834 fissure fill (Rhaetian, Upper Triassic) at Clifton in Bristol, southwest England. Revue de Paleobiologie 26:505-591.
Heckert, A. B., Lucas, S. G., Rinehart, L. F., and A. P. Hunt. 2008. A new genus and species of sphenodontian from the Ghost Ranh Coelophysis Quarry (Upper Triassic: Apachean), Rock Point Formation, New Mexico, USA. Palaeontology 51:827-845.
Holmes, R., Cheng, Y.-N., and X.-C.Wu. 2008. New information on the skull of Keichuosaurus hui (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) with comments on sauropterygian interrelationships. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:76-84.
Hone, D. W. E., and M. J. Benton, M. J. 2008. A new genus of rhynchosaur from the Middle Triassic of South-West England. Palaeontology 51:95-115.
Irmis, R. B. 2008. Perspectives on the origin and early diversification of dinosaurs. PhD dissertation, Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 421 pp.
Jenkins, F. A., Jr., Shubin, N. H., Gatesy, S. M., and A. 2008. Gerrothorax pulcherrimus from the Upper Triassic Fleming Fjord Formation of East Greenland and a reassessment of head lifting in temnospondyl feeding. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28: 935–950.
Jiang, D.-Y., Motani, R., Hao, W.-C., Rieppel, O., Sun, Y.-L., Schmitz, L., and Z.-Y. Suny. 2008. First record of Placodontoidea (Reptilia, Sauropterygia, Placodontia) from the Eastern Tethys. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:904-908.
Jiang, D.-Y., Rieppel, O., Montani, R., Hao, W.-C., Sun, Y.-L., Schmitz, L., and Z.-Y. Sun. 2008. A new Middle Triassic Eosauropterygian (Reptilia, Sauropterygia) from Southwestern China. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:1055-1062.
Joyce, W. G., Lucas, S. G., Scheyer, T. M., Heckert, A. B., and A. P. Hunt. 2008. A thin-shelled reptile from the Late Triassic of North America and the origin of the turtle shell. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 276: 1656.
Kammerer, C. F., Flynn, J. J., Ranivoharimanana, L,. and A. R. Wyss. 2008. New material of Menadon besairiei (Cynodontia: Traversodontidae) from the Triassic of Madagascar. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:445-462.
Knoll, F. 2008. On the Procompsognathus postcranium (Late Triassic, Germany). Geobios 41:779-786.
Li, C., Wu, X.-C., Rieppel, O., Wang, L.-T., and L.-J. Zhao. 2008. An ancestral turtle from the Late Triassic of southwestern China. Nature 456:497-501.
Liu, J., Soares, M. B., and M. Reichel. 2008, Massetognathus (Cynodontia, Traversodontidae) from the Santa Maria Formation of Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia 11:27-36.
Lucas, S. G., and L. H. Tanner. 2008. Reexamination of the end-Triassic mass extinction; pp. 66-103 in Elewa, A. M. T. (ed.), Mass Extinction. Springer-Verlag Publishers, Heidelberg, Germany.
Maisch, M. W., Jiang, D.-y., Hao, W.-c., Sun, Y.-l., Sun, Z.-y., and H. Stöhr. 2008. A well-preserved skull of Qianichthyosaurus zhoui Li, 1999, (Reptilia: Ichthyosauria) from the Upper Triassic of China and the phylogenetic position of the Toretocnemidae. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen 248:257-266.
Mancuso, A. C., and C. A. Mariscano. 2008. Paleoenvironments and taphonomy of a Triassic lacustrine system (Los Rastros Formation, central-western Argentina). Palaios 23: 535-547.
Martz, J.W. 2008. Lithostratigraphy, chemostratigraphy, and vertebrate biostratigraphy of the Dockum Group (Upper Triassic), of southern Garza County, West Texas. Unpublished PhD dissertation. Texas Tech University, Lubbock, 504p.
Modesto, S. P., and J. Botha-Brink, J. 2008. Evidence of a second, large archosauriform reptile in the Lower Triassic Katberg Formation of South Africa. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:914-917.
Motani, R., Jiang, D.-Y., Tintori, A., Sun, Y.-L., Hao, W.-C., Boyd, A., Hinic-Frlog, S., Schmitz, L., Shin, J.-Y., and Z.-Y. Sun. 2008. Horizons and assemblages of Middle Triassic Marine reptiles from Panxian, Guizhou, China. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:900-903.
Nesbitt, S. J., and S. Chatterjee. 2008. Late Triassic dinosauriforms from the Post Quarry and surrounding areas, west Texas, USA. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen 249:143-156.
Nesbitt, S.J., and M.R. Stocker. 2008. The vertebrate assemblage of the Late Triassic Canjilon Quarry (Northern New Mexico, USA) and the importance of apomorphy based assemblage comparisons. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:1063-1072.
Parker, W.G. 2008. Description of new material of the aetosaur Desmatosuchus spurensis (Archosauria: Suchia) from the Chinle Formation of Arizona and a revision of the genus Desmatosuchus. PaleoBios 28:1-40.
Parker, W. G., and B. J. Barton. 2008. New information on the Upper Triassic archosauriform Vancleavea campi based on new material from the Chinle Formation of Arizona. Palaeontologia Electronica 11.3.14a, 20pp.
Parker, W.G., Stocker, M.R., and R.B. Irmis. 2008. A new desmatosuchine aetosaur (Archosauria: Suchia) from the Upper Triassic Tecovas Formation (Dockum Group) of Texas. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:692-701.
Peyer, K., Carter, J. G., Sues, H.-D., Novak, S. E., and P. E. Olsen. 2008. A new suchian archosaur from the Upper Triassic of North Carolina. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:363-381.
Renesto, S. 2008. Remains of a juvenile phytosaur from the Late Triassic of northern Italy. Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia 114:155-160.
Richter, M., and C. E. V. Toledo. 2008. The first Triassic lungfish from South America (Santa Maria Formation, Parana Basin) and its bearing on geological correlations within Pangaea, pp. 43-54 in Cavin, L., Longbottom, A., and M. Richter, M. (eds.) Fishes and the Break-up of Pangaea. The Geological Society Special Publication 295.
de Ricqles, A., Padian, K., Knoll, F., and J. R. Horner. 2008. On the origin of high growth rates in archosaurs and thier ancient relatives: complementary histological studies on Triassic archosauriforms and the problem of a "phylogenetic signial" in bone histology. Annales de Paleontologie 94:57-76.
Rieppel, O., Li, C., and N. C. Fraser. 2008. The skeletal anatomy of the Triassic protosaur Dinocephalosaurus orientalis Li from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou Province, Southern China. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28: 95-110.
Ruta, M., and J. R. Bolt. 2008. The brachyopoid Hadrokkosaurus bradyi from the early Middle Triassic of Arizona, and a phylogenetic analysis of lower jaw characters in temnospondyl amphibians. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 53:579-592.
Säilä, L. K. 2008. The osteology and affinities of Anomoiodon liliensterni, a procolophonid reptile from the Lower Triassic Bundsandstein of Germany. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:1199-1205.
Scheyer, T. M. 2008. Aging the oldest turtles: the placodont affinities of Priscochelys hegnabrunnensis. Naturwissenschaften 95:803-810.
Schoch, R. R. 2008. A new stereospondyl from the German Middle Triassic, and the origin of the Metoposauridae. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 152:79-113.
Sidor, C., Miller, M., and J. Isbell. 2008. Tetrapod burrows from the Triassic of Antarctica: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28: 277-284.
Sidor, C. A., Damiani, R., and W. R. Hammer. 2008. A new temnospondyl from Antarctica and a review of Fremouv Formation biostratigraphy. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:656-663.
Spielmann, J. A., Lucas, S. G., Rinehart, L. F., and A. B. Heckert. 2008. The Late Triassic Archosauromorph Trilophosaurus. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 43:1-177.
Stein, K., Palmer, C., Gill, P. G., and M. J. Benton. 2008. The aerodynamics of the British Late Triassic Kuehneosauridae. Palaeontology 51:967-981.
Stocker, M. R. 2008. The relationships of the phytosaur Leptosuchus Case 1922 with descriptions of new material from Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. Unpublished M.S. Thesis, University of Iowa, Iowa City, 220p.
Sues, H.-D., and R. R. Reisz. 2008. Anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Sclerosaurus armatus (Amniota: Parareptilia) from the Buntsandstein (Triassic) of Europe. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:1031-1042.
Surkov, M. V., and M. J. Benton. 2008, Head kinematics and feeding adaptations of the Permian and Triassic dicynodonts. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:1120-1129.
Valais, S. de, and R. N. Melchor. 2008. Ichnotaxonomy of bird-like footprints: an example from the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic of northwest Argentina. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:145-159.
Voight, S., Buchwitz, M., Fischer, J., Krause, D., and R. Georgi. 2008. Feather-like development of Triassic diapsid skin appendages. Naturwissenschaften
Wang, X., Bachmann, G. R., Hagdorn, H., Sanders, P. M., Cuny, G., Chen, X., Wang, C., Chen, L., Chen, L., Meng, F., and G. Xu, G. 2008. The Late Triassic Black Shales of Guanling area, Guizhou Province, South-West China: a unique marine reptile and pelagic crinoid fossil lagerstatte. Palaeontology 51:27-61.
Weinbaum, J. C. 2008. Review of the Triassic reptiles Poposaurus gracilis and Postosuchus kirkpatricki (Reptilia: Archosauria). Unpublished PhD dissertation, Texas Tech University, 183.
Whitside, D. I., and J. E. A. Marshall. 2008. The age, fauna and palaeoenvironment of the Late Triassic fisure deposits of Tytherington, South Gloucestershire, UK. Geological Magazine 141:105-147.
Witzmann, F., and T. Gassner. 2008. Metoposaurid and mastodonsaurid stereospondyls from the Triassic-Jurassic boundary of Portugal. Alcheringa 32:37-51.
Witzmann, F., Schoch, R. R., and M. W. Maisch. 2008. A relict basal tetrapod from Germany: first evidence of a Triassic chroniosuchian outside Russia: Naturwissenschaften 95:67-72.
Witzmann, F. and R. Soler-Gijón. 2008. The bone histology of osteoderms in temnospondyl amphibians and in the chroniosuchian Bystrowiella. Acta Zoologica. Early Online. DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-6395.2008.00385.x.
Zeigler, K.E. 2008. Stratigraphy, paleomagnetism, and magnetostratigraphy of the Upper Triassic Chinle Group, North-central New Mexico and preliminary magnetostratigraphy of the Lower Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation, Eastern Utah. Unpublished PhD dissertation, University of New Mexico, 224p.
Zeigler, K. E., Kelley, S., and J. W. Geissmann. 2008. Revisions to stratigraphic nomenclature of the Upper Triassic Chinle Group in New Mexico: New insights from geologic mapping, sedimentology, and magnetostratigraphic/paleomagnetic data. Rocky Mountain Geology 43:121-141.
Zhao, L., Sato, T., and C. Li. 2008. The most complete pistosauroid skeleton from the Triassic of Yunnan, China. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 82:283-286.
This is not an entirely exhaustive list, but hopefully fairly complete. It does not include all geological papers or invertebrates. It was also cross-checked with Tracy Ford's dinohunter site.
By the way...the most prolific author for Triassic VP in 2008 is...... Mike Benton with five papers.
2008 Triassic Vertebrate Paleontology Literature
Brusatte, S.L., Benton, M.J., Ruta, M., and G.T. Lloyd. 2008. Superiority, competition, and opportunism in the evolutionary radiation of dinosaurs. Science 321:1485-1488.
Brusatte, S. L., Benton, M. J., Ruta, M., and G. T. Lloyd. 2008. The first 50 Myr of dinosaur evolution: macroevolutionary pattern and morphological disparity. Biology Letters, published online, 4pp.
Buffetaut, E., and M. Novak. 2008. A cyamodont placodont (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) from the Triassic of Solovenia. Palaeontology 51:1301-1306.
Butler, R. J., Upchurch, P., and D. B. Norman. 2008. The phylogeny of the ornithischian dinosaurs. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 4:1-40.
Cisneros, J. C. 2008. Taxonomic status of the reptile genus Procolophon from the Gondwanana Triassic. Palaeontographic Africana 43:7-17.
Cisneros, J. C. 2008. Phylogenetic relationships of procolophonid parareptiles with remarks on thier geological record. Journal of Systematic Paleontology 6:345-366.
Cisneros, J. C. 2008. New basal procolophonid reptile from the Katberg formation (Lower Triassic) of the South African Karoo. Paleoworld 17:126-134.
Cleveland D. M., Nordt, L. C., and S. C. Atchley. 2008. Paleosols, trace fossils, and precipitation estimates of the uppermost Triassic strata in northern New Mexico. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 257:421-444.
Dalton, R. 2008. Fossil reptiles mired in controversy. Nature 451:510.
Damiani, R. 2008. A giant skull of the temnospondyl Xenotosuchus africanus from the Middle Triassic of South Aferica and its ontogenetic implications. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 53:75-84.
Dias-da-Silva, S., Dias, E.V., and C.L. Schultz. 2009. First record of stereospondyls (Tetrapoda, Temnospondyli) in the Upper Triassic of Southern Brazil. Gondwana Research 15:131-136.
Diedrich, C. 2008. Millions of reptile tracks – Early to Middle Triassic carbonate tidal flat migration bridges of Central Europe – reptile immigration into the Germanic basin. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 259:410-423.
Dzik, J., Sulej, T., and G. Niedźwiedzki. 2008. A dicynodont−theropod association in the latest Triassic of Poland. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 53:733–738.
Galton, P. M. 2008. Notes on the remains of archosaurian reptiles, mostly basal sauropodomorph dinosaurs, from the 1834 fissure fill (Rhaetian, Upper Triassic) at Clifton in Bristol, southwest England. Revue de Paleobiologie 26:505-591.
Heckert, A. B., Lucas, S. G., Rinehart, L. F., and A. P. Hunt. 2008. A new genus and species of sphenodontian from the Ghost Ranh Coelophysis Quarry (Upper Triassic: Apachean), Rock Point Formation, New Mexico, USA. Palaeontology 51:827-845.
Holmes, R., Cheng, Y.-N., and X.-C.Wu. 2008. New information on the skull of Keichuosaurus hui (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) with comments on sauropterygian interrelationships. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:76-84.
Hone, D. W. E., and M. J. Benton, M. J. 2008. A new genus of rhynchosaur from the Middle Triassic of South-West England. Palaeontology 51:95-115.
Irmis, R. B. 2008. Perspectives on the origin and early diversification of dinosaurs. PhD dissertation, Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 421 pp.
Jenkins, F. A., Jr., Shubin, N. H., Gatesy, S. M., and A. 2008. Gerrothorax pulcherrimus from the Upper Triassic Fleming Fjord Formation of East Greenland and a reassessment of head lifting in temnospondyl feeding. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28: 935–950.
Jiang, D.-Y., Motani, R., Hao, W.-C., Rieppel, O., Sun, Y.-L., Schmitz, L., and Z.-Y. Suny. 2008. First record of Placodontoidea (Reptilia, Sauropterygia, Placodontia) from the Eastern Tethys. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:904-908.
Jiang, D.-Y., Rieppel, O., Montani, R., Hao, W.-C., Sun, Y.-L., Schmitz, L., and Z.-Y. Sun. 2008. A new Middle Triassic Eosauropterygian (Reptilia, Sauropterygia) from Southwestern China. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:1055-1062.
Joyce, W. G., Lucas, S. G., Scheyer, T. M., Heckert, A. B., and A. P. Hunt. 2008. A thin-shelled reptile from the Late Triassic of North America and the origin of the turtle shell. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 276: 1656.
Kammerer, C. F., Flynn, J. J., Ranivoharimanana, L,. and A. R. Wyss. 2008. New material of Menadon besairiei (Cynodontia: Traversodontidae) from the Triassic of Madagascar. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:445-462.
Knoll, F. 2008. On the Procompsognathus postcranium (Late Triassic, Germany). Geobios 41:779-786.
Li, C., Wu, X.-C., Rieppel, O., Wang, L.-T., and L.-J. Zhao. 2008. An ancestral turtle from the Late Triassic of southwestern China. Nature 456:497-501.
Liu, J., Soares, M. B., and M. Reichel. 2008, Massetognathus (Cynodontia, Traversodontidae) from the Santa Maria Formation of Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia 11:27-36.
Lucas, S. G., and L. H. Tanner. 2008. Reexamination of the end-Triassic mass extinction; pp. 66-103 in Elewa, A. M. T. (ed.), Mass Extinction. Springer-Verlag Publishers, Heidelberg, Germany.
Maisch, M. W., Jiang, D.-y., Hao, W.-c., Sun, Y.-l., Sun, Z.-y., and H. Stöhr. 2008. A well-preserved skull of Qianichthyosaurus zhoui Li, 1999, (Reptilia: Ichthyosauria) from the Upper Triassic of China and the phylogenetic position of the Toretocnemidae. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen 248:257-266.
Mancuso, A. C., and C. A. Mariscano. 2008. Paleoenvironments and taphonomy of a Triassic lacustrine system (Los Rastros Formation, central-western Argentina). Palaios 23: 535-547.
Martz, J.W. 2008. Lithostratigraphy, chemostratigraphy, and vertebrate biostratigraphy of the Dockum Group (Upper Triassic), of southern Garza County, West Texas. Unpublished PhD dissertation. Texas Tech University, Lubbock, 504p.
Modesto, S. P., and J. Botha-Brink, J. 2008. Evidence of a second, large archosauriform reptile in the Lower Triassic Katberg Formation of South Africa. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:914-917.
Motani, R., Jiang, D.-Y., Tintori, A., Sun, Y.-L., Hao, W.-C., Boyd, A., Hinic-Frlog, S., Schmitz, L., Shin, J.-Y., and Z.-Y. Sun. 2008. Horizons and assemblages of Middle Triassic Marine reptiles from Panxian, Guizhou, China. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:900-903.
Nesbitt, S. J., and S. Chatterjee. 2008. Late Triassic dinosauriforms from the Post Quarry and surrounding areas, west Texas, USA. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen 249:143-156.
Nesbitt, S.J., and M.R. Stocker. 2008. The vertebrate assemblage of the Late Triassic Canjilon Quarry (Northern New Mexico, USA) and the importance of apomorphy based assemblage comparisons. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:1063-1072.
Parker, W.G. 2008. Description of new material of the aetosaur Desmatosuchus spurensis (Archosauria: Suchia) from the Chinle Formation of Arizona and a revision of the genus Desmatosuchus. PaleoBios 28:1-40.
Parker, W. G., and B. J. Barton. 2008. New information on the Upper Triassic archosauriform Vancleavea campi based on new material from the Chinle Formation of Arizona. Palaeontologia Electronica 11.3.14a, 20pp.
Parker, W.G., Stocker, M.R., and R.B. Irmis. 2008. A new desmatosuchine aetosaur (Archosauria: Suchia) from the Upper Triassic Tecovas Formation (Dockum Group) of Texas. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:692-701.
Peyer, K., Carter, J. G., Sues, H.-D., Novak, S. E., and P. E. Olsen. 2008. A new suchian archosaur from the Upper Triassic of North Carolina. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:363-381.
Renesto, S. 2008. Remains of a juvenile phytosaur from the Late Triassic of northern Italy. Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia 114:155-160.
Richter, M., and C. E. V. Toledo. 2008. The first Triassic lungfish from South America (Santa Maria Formation, Parana Basin) and its bearing on geological correlations within Pangaea, pp. 43-54 in Cavin, L., Longbottom, A., and M. Richter, M. (eds.) Fishes and the Break-up of Pangaea. The Geological Society Special Publication 295.
de Ricqles, A., Padian, K., Knoll, F., and J. R. Horner. 2008. On the origin of high growth rates in archosaurs and thier ancient relatives: complementary histological studies on Triassic archosauriforms and the problem of a "phylogenetic signial" in bone histology. Annales de Paleontologie 94:57-76.
Rieppel, O., Li, C., and N. C. Fraser. 2008. The skeletal anatomy of the Triassic protosaur Dinocephalosaurus orientalis Li from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou Province, Southern China. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28: 95-110.
Ruta, M., and J. R. Bolt. 2008. The brachyopoid Hadrokkosaurus bradyi from the early Middle Triassic of Arizona, and a phylogenetic analysis of lower jaw characters in temnospondyl amphibians. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 53:579-592.
Säilä, L. K. 2008. The osteology and affinities of Anomoiodon liliensterni, a procolophonid reptile from the Lower Triassic Bundsandstein of Germany. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:1199-1205.
Scheyer, T. M. 2008. Aging the oldest turtles: the placodont affinities of Priscochelys hegnabrunnensis. Naturwissenschaften 95:803-810.
Schoch, R. R. 2008. A new stereospondyl from the German Middle Triassic, and the origin of the Metoposauridae. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 152:79-113.
Sidor, C., Miller, M., and J. Isbell. 2008. Tetrapod burrows from the Triassic of Antarctica: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28: 277-284.
Sidor, C. A., Damiani, R., and W. R. Hammer. 2008. A new temnospondyl from Antarctica and a review of Fremouv Formation biostratigraphy. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:656-663.
Spielmann, J. A., Lucas, S. G., Rinehart, L. F., and A. B. Heckert. 2008. The Late Triassic Archosauromorph Trilophosaurus. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 43:1-177.
Stein, K., Palmer, C., Gill, P. G., and M. J. Benton. 2008. The aerodynamics of the British Late Triassic Kuehneosauridae. Palaeontology 51:967-981.
Stocker, M. R. 2008. The relationships of the phytosaur Leptosuchus Case 1922 with descriptions of new material from Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. Unpublished M.S. Thesis, University of Iowa, Iowa City, 220p.
Sues, H.-D., and R. R. Reisz. 2008. Anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Sclerosaurus armatus (Amniota: Parareptilia) from the Buntsandstein (Triassic) of Europe. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:1031-1042.
Surkov, M. V., and M. J. Benton. 2008, Head kinematics and feeding adaptations of the Permian and Triassic dicynodonts. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:1120-1129.
Valais, S. de, and R. N. Melchor. 2008. Ichnotaxonomy of bird-like footprints: an example from the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic of northwest Argentina. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:145-159.
Voight, S., Buchwitz, M., Fischer, J., Krause, D., and R. Georgi. 2008. Feather-like development of Triassic diapsid skin appendages. Naturwissenschaften
Wang, X., Bachmann, G. R., Hagdorn, H., Sanders, P. M., Cuny, G., Chen, X., Wang, C., Chen, L., Chen, L., Meng, F., and G. Xu, G. 2008. The Late Triassic Black Shales of Guanling area, Guizhou Province, South-West China: a unique marine reptile and pelagic crinoid fossil lagerstatte. Palaeontology 51:27-61.
Weinbaum, J. C. 2008. Review of the Triassic reptiles Poposaurus gracilis and Postosuchus kirkpatricki (Reptilia: Archosauria). Unpublished PhD dissertation, Texas Tech University, 183.
Whitside, D. I., and J. E. A. Marshall. 2008. The age, fauna and palaeoenvironment of the Late Triassic fisure deposits of Tytherington, South Gloucestershire, UK. Geological Magazine 141:105-147.
Witzmann, F., and T. Gassner. 2008. Metoposaurid and mastodonsaurid stereospondyls from the Triassic-Jurassic boundary of Portugal. Alcheringa 32:37-51.
Witzmann, F., Schoch, R. R., and M. W. Maisch. 2008. A relict basal tetrapod from Germany: first evidence of a Triassic chroniosuchian outside Russia: Naturwissenschaften 95:67-72.
Witzmann, F. and R. Soler-Gijón. 2008. The bone histology of osteoderms in temnospondyl amphibians and in the chroniosuchian Bystrowiella. Acta Zoologica. Early Online. DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-6395.2008.00385.x.
Zeigler, K.E. 2008. Stratigraphy, paleomagnetism, and magnetostratigraphy of the Upper Triassic Chinle Group, North-central New Mexico and preliminary magnetostratigraphy of the Lower Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation, Eastern Utah. Unpublished PhD dissertation, University of New Mexico, 224p.
Zeigler, K. E., Kelley, S., and J. W. Geissmann. 2008. Revisions to stratigraphic nomenclature of the Upper Triassic Chinle Group in New Mexico: New insights from geologic mapping, sedimentology, and magnetostratigraphic/paleomagnetic data. Rocky Mountain Geology 43:121-141.
Zhao, L., Sato, T., and C. Li. 2008. The most complete pistosauroid skeleton from the Triassic of Yunnan, China. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 82:283-286.
Feather-like development of Triassic diapsid skin appendages
Thanks to Rob Taylor of the Theropod Archives who just posted on the Dinosaur Mailing List that Naturwissenschaften is freely available online through the end of the month. One of several Online First Titles that is of interest is this one...
Voight, S., Buchwitz, M., Fischer, J., Krause, D., and R. Georgi. Online First 2008. Feather-like development of Triassic diapsid skin appendages. Naturwissenschaften
DOI 10.1007/s00114-008-0453-1
Abstract - Of the recent sauropsid skin appendage types, only feathers develop from a cylindrical epidermal invagination, the follicle, and show hierarchical branching. Fossilized integuments of Mesozoic diapsids have been interpreted as follicular and potential feather homologues, an idea particularly controversially discussed for the elongate dorsal skin projections of the small diapsid Longisquama insignis from the Triassic of Kyrgyzstan. Based on new finds and their comparison with the type material, we show that Longisquama’s appendages consist of a single-branched internal frame enclosed by a flexible outer membrane. Not supporting a categorization either as feathers or as scales, our analysis demonstrates that the Longisquama appendages formed in a two-stage, feather-like developmental process, representing an unusual early example for the evolutionary plasticity of sauropsid integument.
The PDF and online supplemental material is also available from the same site.
Voight, S., Buchwitz, M., Fischer, J., Krause, D., and R. Georgi. Online First 2008. Feather-like development of Triassic diapsid skin appendages. Naturwissenschaften
DOI 10.1007/s00114-008-0453-1
Abstract - Of the recent sauropsid skin appendage types, only feathers develop from a cylindrical epidermal invagination, the follicle, and show hierarchical branching. Fossilized integuments of Mesozoic diapsids have been interpreted as follicular and potential feather homologues, an idea particularly controversially discussed for the elongate dorsal skin projections of the small diapsid Longisquama insignis from the Triassic of Kyrgyzstan. Based on new finds and their comparison with the type material, we show that Longisquama’s appendages consist of a single-branched internal frame enclosed by a flexible outer membrane. Not supporting a categorization either as feathers or as scales, our analysis demonstrates that the Longisquama appendages formed in a two-stage, feather-like developmental process, representing an unusual early example for the evolutionary plasticity of sauropsid integument.
The PDF and online supplemental material is also available from the same site.
SVP Meeting and Mystery Fossil #2
I am off to attend the annual meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology in Cleveland. There are lots of interesting abstracts (especially Triassic) and I am hoping it will be a very good meeting.
Because I will not be posting for over a week I've included another mystery fossil for anyone still checking these pages. I'll give you a couple of hints, you are looking the element in distal (ventral) view, the specimen is an archosaurian bone from the Chinle Formation, the specimen is part of the holotype of an animal whose generic name roughly translate as "ghost reptile", and another clue can be found by reading over the comments from Triassic Mystery Fossil #1.
Because I will not be posting for over a week I've included another mystery fossil for anyone still checking these pages. I'll give you a couple of hints, you are looking the element in distal (ventral) view, the specimen is an archosaurian bone from the Chinle Formation, the specimen is part of the holotype of an animal whose generic name roughly translate as "ghost reptile", and another clue can be found by reading over the comments from Triassic Mystery Fossil #1.
Late Triassic Mystery Fossil #1
One of the key skills needed to work on Late Triassic fossils is the ability to readily identify fragmentary specimens (because that is all that you usually get!). I've seen this on a few other blogs and have found it entertaining, so from time to time I will present a mystery fossil specimen from the Late Triassic for reader identification. I'll start with a fairly easy one. I would ask some of my colleagues who specialize in the Late Triassic and read this blog to please refrain from providing an ID immediately ;).
What exactly is going on with the dinosaurs in the Early Jurassic?
It is considered by some to be, and should have been, a classic example of adaptive radiation. At the end of the Triassic the majority of pseudosuchians go extinct, removing the biggest competitors of the dinosaurs and leaving the door open for an evolutionary explosion of the dinosaurs. Interestingly, however, this is not what happened according to a new study by Steve Brusatte and colleagues (Brusatte et al., 2008b) who found, in the continuation of their research comparing morphospace disparity between ornithidirans and pseudosuchians (Brusatte et al., 2008a), that dinosaur disparity remained relatively unchanged through the Triassic/Jurassic boundary. It would be expected that once the extinction of the pseudosuchians freed up a large amount of morphospace, the dinosaur record (with whom the pseudosuchians occupied a lot of the same niches and had similar body plans) would show a strong response, yet the dinosaurs show only a "slight non-significant increase" (Brusatte et al., 2008b). Thus, these authors argue, "different aspects of dinosaur radiation (diversity, disparity, and abundance) were decoupled, and the overall macroevolutionary pattern of the first 50 Myr of dinosaur evolution is more complex than often considered (Brusatte et al., 2008b).
Adam Yates had discussed this (and his hypothesis) a few weeks ago at Dracovenator and I had provided some follow-up discussion here. Nonetheless, despite the timing of the extinction it is apparent that not to much is going on for the dinosaurs immediately after the TR/J extinction (which by the way took out the non-dinosaurian dinosauromorphs). Sure to the record of coelophysoids and sauropodomorphs you add a few large theropods such as Dilophosaurus and you see the first good records of heterodontosaurids and the earliest thyreophorans (including the first ornithischians and sauropodomorphs in N. America), but you do not see a true explosion of dinosaur diversity until you get to the Late Jurassic. How much of this is a sampling and/or preservation problem is unclear, but simply look at the Weishampel et al. (2004) chapter on dinosaur distribution in the 2nd edition of The Dinosauria and compare the faunal lists for these epochs. You really have to clean up the Late Triassic portion removing many of the Ornithischia references, indeterminate theropods (could be shuvosaurids), and all of the footprint evidence (no ornithischian or sauropodomorph tracks in N. America; the "theropod" tracks worldwide could be made by convergent dinosauriforms, and pseudosuchians), not to mention the really messed up stratigraphy for the Chinle and Dockum which caused some duplicate entries. Now compare the Late Triassic, Early Jurassic, and Middle Jurassic lists to the rest of the chapter. Surprised? I commend Brusatte et al. (2008a, 2008b) for setting the stage and providing a baseline framework for some much needed future research to address this enigma.
REFERENCES
Brusatte, S.L., Benton, M.J., Ruta, M., and G.T. Lloyd. 2008a. Superiority, competition, and opportunism in the evolutionary radiation of dinosaurs. Science 321:1485-1488.
Brusatte, S.L., Benton, M.J., Ruta, M., and G.T. Lloyd. 2008b. The first 50 Myr of dinosaur evolution: macroevolutionary pattern and morphological disparity. Biology Letters, doi:10.1098/rsbl.2008.0441, published online.
Weishampel, D. B., Barrett, P. M., Coria, R. E., Le Loeuff, J., Gomani, E. S., Zhao Z., Xu X., Sahni, A., and C. Noto. 2004. Dinosaur distribution. In: Weishampel, D. B., Dodson, P., and Osmólska, H. eds. The Dinosauria. 2nd edition. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. pp. 517-606.
Adam Yates had discussed this (and his hypothesis) a few weeks ago at Dracovenator and I had provided some follow-up discussion here. Nonetheless, despite the timing of the extinction it is apparent that not to much is going on for the dinosaurs immediately after the TR/J extinction (which by the way took out the non-dinosaurian dinosauromorphs). Sure to the record of coelophysoids and sauropodomorphs you add a few large theropods such as Dilophosaurus and you see the first good records of heterodontosaurids and the earliest thyreophorans (including the first ornithischians and sauropodomorphs in N. America), but you do not see a true explosion of dinosaur diversity until you get to the Late Jurassic. How much of this is a sampling and/or preservation problem is unclear, but simply look at the Weishampel et al. (2004) chapter on dinosaur distribution in the 2nd edition of The Dinosauria and compare the faunal lists for these epochs. You really have to clean up the Late Triassic portion removing many of the Ornithischia references, indeterminate theropods (could be shuvosaurids), and all of the footprint evidence (no ornithischian or sauropodomorph tracks in N. America; the "theropod" tracks worldwide could be made by convergent dinosauriforms, and pseudosuchians), not to mention the really messed up stratigraphy for the Chinle and Dockum which caused some duplicate entries. Now compare the Late Triassic, Early Jurassic, and Middle Jurassic lists to the rest of the chapter. Surprised? I commend Brusatte et al. (2008a, 2008b) for setting the stage and providing a baseline framework for some much needed future research to address this enigma.
REFERENCES
Brusatte, S.L., Benton, M.J., Ruta, M., and G.T. Lloyd. 2008a. Superiority, competition, and opportunism in the evolutionary radiation of dinosaurs. Science 321:1485-1488.
Brusatte, S.L., Benton, M.J., Ruta, M., and G.T. Lloyd. 2008b. The first 50 Myr of dinosaur evolution: macroevolutionary pattern and morphological disparity. Biology Letters, doi:10.1098/rsbl.2008.0441, published online.
Weishampel, D. B., Barrett, P. M., Coria, R. E., Le Loeuff, J., Gomani, E. S., Zhao Z., Xu X., Sahni, A., and C. Noto. 2004. Dinosaur distribution. In: Weishampel, D. B., Dodson, P., and Osmólska, H. eds. The Dinosauria. 2nd edition. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. pp. 517-606.
Introducing Sierritasuchus macalpini
The new issue of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology [28(3)] contains a new paper by me (and coauthors Michelle Stocker and Randy Irmis) describing a new taxon of aetosaur. If you have never heard of aetosaurs they are heavily armored, probably omnivorous, crocodile-line archosaurs that are extremely common fossils in Late Triassic terrestrial deposits. Aetosaurs are characterized by their armor, which consists of row after row of rectangular armor plates (osteoderms). Interestingly the dorsal (upper) surface of these plates is ornamented and this armor pattern is diagnostic of taxa. Even more informative is the morphology of what are termed lateral plates, or plates protecting the flanks of the animal. All aetosaurs can roughly be divided into three groups (clades) based on lateral plate morphology (Parker, 2007).
This is the fourth (and last) paper in a series which reanalyzes the genus Desmatosuchus (see also Parker, 2005, 2007, 2008). In 2000 I was studying the collections at the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology (UMMP) when I came across the partial skeleton of small aetosaur that had been assigned to the genus Desmatosuchus. This specimen immediately caught my attention because although it represented a Desmatosuchine, it was quite different from Desmatosuchus (the holotype was on display upstairs). However, this specimen was was a bit of an enigma because of its incompleteness, crushing (it was also overprepared), and the fact that it appeared to be a juvenile. I gave a presentation on this specimen back in 2001 at the Western Association of Vertebrate Paleontologist’s meeting where I concluded that it either represented a new taxon or was possibly a juvenile form of Longosuchus (another Desmatosuchine) (Parker, 2001). Despite moving on to other projects, this fossil was always in the back of my mind and in 2004 enlisted Michelle Stocker to work with me on the description. The specimen was distinct enough from both Desmatosuchus and Longosuchus to warrant erection as a new taxon; however, we were still bothered by the small size of the specimen because very little is known regarding ontogentic changes to aetosaur armor morphology. Then two things happened; 1) we discovered juvenile Typothorax (another aetosaur) material at Petrified Forest National Park that clearly showed that little if any change occurred through ontogeny; 2) Bill Mueller at Texas Tech University turned us on to a lateral plate from a larger individual that was clearly referable to the same taxon, and possessed the same characters as the UMMP specimen. Still, we needed to be sure so we recruited Randy Irmis to conduct histological work to determine an ontogentic stage for the material. Randy was able to conclude that although the specimen was not fully grown, it was not exactly a very young juvenile either. Thus we felt confident enough to complete the study and erect a new taxon.
This is the first published study that attempts ontogentic stage determination in an aetosaur using the histology of osteoderms, and we hope that this will become a very important tool for future studies. For those who are wondering, the name Sierritasuchus is from Sierrita de la Cruz Creek near where the specimen was found. The species name S. macalpini honors the late Archie MacAlpin who collected the specimen in 1939. MacAlpin was a student of Ermine Cowles Case who published much on the Late Triassic of Texas. MacAlpin was later a geology professor at the University of Notre Dame. Sierritasuchus is currently only known from two specimens from the Tecovas Formation (Dockum Group) of Texas. It differs from both Desmatosuchus and Longosuchus (the two best known desmatosuchines) by various characters of the osteoderms and vertebrae. The picture above shows the majority of the holotype material (UMMP V60817). The reconstruction for this post was generously completed by Jeff Martz.
REFERENCES
Parker, W.G. 2001. An enigmatic aetosaur specimen from the Upper Triassic Dockum Formation of Texas. Western Association of Vertebrate Paleontologists with Mesa Southwest Museum and Southwest Paleontological Society Abstracts 2001:23.
Parker, W.G. 2005. A new species of the Late Triassic aetosaur Desmatosuchus (Archosauria: Pseudosuchia). Compte Rendus Palevol 4:327-340.
Parker, W.G. 2007. Reassessment of the aetosaur “Desmatosuchus” chamaensis with a reanalysis of the phylogeny of the Aetosauria (Archosauria: Pseudosuchia). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 5:41-68.
Parker, W.G. 2008. Description of new material of the aetosaur Desmatosuchus spurensis (Archosauria: Suchia) from the Chinle Formation of Arizona and a revision of the genus Desmatosuchus. PaleoBios 28:1-40.
This is the fourth (and last) paper in a series which reanalyzes the genus Desmatosuchus (see also Parker, 2005, 2007, 2008). In 2000 I was studying the collections at the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology (UMMP) when I came across the partial skeleton of small aetosaur that had been assigned to the genus Desmatosuchus. This specimen immediately caught my attention because although it represented a Desmatosuchine, it was quite different from Desmatosuchus (the holotype was on display upstairs). However, this specimen was was a bit of an enigma because of its incompleteness, crushing (it was also overprepared), and the fact that it appeared to be a juvenile. I gave a presentation on this specimen back in 2001 at the Western Association of Vertebrate Paleontologist’s meeting where I concluded that it either represented a new taxon or was possibly a juvenile form of Longosuchus (another Desmatosuchine) (Parker, 2001). Despite moving on to other projects, this fossil was always in the back of my mind and in 2004 enlisted Michelle Stocker to work with me on the description. The specimen was distinct enough from both Desmatosuchus and Longosuchus to warrant erection as a new taxon; however, we were still bothered by the small size of the specimen because very little is known regarding ontogentic changes to aetosaur armor morphology. Then two things happened; 1) we discovered juvenile Typothorax (another aetosaur) material at Petrified Forest National Park that clearly showed that little if any change occurred through ontogeny; 2) Bill Mueller at Texas Tech University turned us on to a lateral plate from a larger individual that was clearly referable to the same taxon, and possessed the same characters as the UMMP specimen. Still, we needed to be sure so we recruited Randy Irmis to conduct histological work to determine an ontogentic stage for the material. Randy was able to conclude that although the specimen was not fully grown, it was not exactly a very young juvenile either. Thus we felt confident enough to complete the study and erect a new taxon.
This is the first published study that attempts ontogentic stage determination in an aetosaur using the histology of osteoderms, and we hope that this will become a very important tool for future studies. For those who are wondering, the name Sierritasuchus is from Sierrita de la Cruz Creek near where the specimen was found. The species name S. macalpini honors the late Archie MacAlpin who collected the specimen in 1939. MacAlpin was a student of Ermine Cowles Case who published much on the Late Triassic of Texas. MacAlpin was later a geology professor at the University of Notre Dame. Sierritasuchus is currently only known from two specimens from the Tecovas Formation (Dockum Group) of Texas. It differs from both Desmatosuchus and Longosuchus (the two best known desmatosuchines) by various characters of the osteoderms and vertebrae. The picture above shows the majority of the holotype material (UMMP V60817). The reconstruction for this post was generously completed by Jeff Martz.
REFERENCES
Parker, W.G. 2001. An enigmatic aetosaur specimen from the Upper Triassic Dockum Formation of Texas. Western Association of Vertebrate Paleontologists with Mesa Southwest Museum and Southwest Paleontological Society Abstracts 2001:23.
Parker, W.G. 2005. A new species of the Late Triassic aetosaur Desmatosuchus (Archosauria: Pseudosuchia). Compte Rendus Palevol 4:327-340.
Parker, W.G. 2007. Reassessment of the aetosaur “Desmatosuchus” chamaensis with a reanalysis of the phylogeny of the Aetosauria (Archosauria: Pseudosuchia). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 5:41-68.
Parker, W.G. 2008. Description of new material of the aetosaur Desmatosuchus spurensis (Archosauria: Suchia) from the Chinle Formation of Arizona and a revision of the genus Desmatosuchus. PaleoBios 28:1-40.
Parker, W.G., Stocker, M.R., and R.B. Irmis. 2008. A new desmatosuchine aetosaur (Archosauria: Suchia) from the Upper Triassic Tecovas Formation (Dockum Group) of Texas. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28:692-701.
Dinosauria vs. Pseudosuchia - New paper in Science
Very recently there has been a resurgence of interest in the early appearance and diversification of the Dinosauria mainly due to the recognition that there exists strong convergence between early dinosaurs and pseudosuchian archosaurs such as Revueltosaurus and Shuvosaurus, and that dinosaur precursors such as Dromomeron and Silesaurus not only survived into the Late Triassic but also coexisted with the dinosaurs for millions of years (Dzik, 2003; Ezcurra, 2006; Irmis et al. 2007b; Nesbitt et al., 2007; Parker et al., 2005; Nesbitt and Norell, 2006). This has been accompanied by studies demonstrating that in some faunas (especially those of North America) dinosaurs were neither dominant or diverse, and that in fact there is no unambiguous evidence of Triassic ornithischians or sauropodomorphs in North America, and that the global record of Triassic ornithischians is extremely poor (Irmis et al., 2007a; Nesbitt et al., 2007). These and other studies have also demonstrated that Late Triassic pseudosuchians were extremely diverse and that their occurrence together with ornithodirans in most Late Triassic assemblages demonstrates that they were filling similar ecological roles. Thus, one of the biggest mysteries is why the majority of pseudosuchian lineages die out at the end of the Triassic, while the more conservative dinosaurs go on to have great success for the next 140 million years.
Today in the new issue of Science, Brusatte et al. provide the results of a multifaceted study addressing this question. They provide a new phylogenetic analysis of the Archosauria (supplementary materials) and compare evolutionary rates and morphological disparity between pseudosuchians and ornithodirans. Interestingly they found that the dinosaurs had lower disparity and represented a lesser amount of morphospace occupation compared to the pseudosuchians. Furthermore rates of character evolution between the two groups were indistinguishable. Previous hypotheses that the dinosaurs were more successful due to physiological superiority and were “preordained for success” are discounted (as was also argued by Irmis et al., 2007b). Instead Brusatte et al., suggest that the “dinosaurs were the beneficiaries of two mass extinction events – and some good luck”.
I admit that I am not surprised at all by their findings, but am probably biased because this trend is readily apparent in North America (where I work) where with the exception of the Hayden and Coelophysis Quarries at Ghost Ranch New Mexico (and trackways in the youngest Triassic units) there is a marked paucity of Triassic dinosaur fossils and an abundance of diverse pseudosuchians. I am a bit flummoxed over the basal positioning of Revueltosaurus in their phylogeny, but this is based on an incomplete coding which I have not thoroughly reviewed.
Overall I find the paper to be a useful contribution in the attempt to discern why such a wonderful diversity of crocodile-line archosaurs lineages was extinguished at the end Triassic. Their data helps quantify some of the trends seen by other workers, especially that the competition model is most likely untenable. However, disproving the competition scenario does not necessarily support the "lucky break" hypothesis. Furthermore, I have not seen strong evidence for a Carnian-Norian terrestrial extinction in the fossil record, a claim that is even more weakened by the recent announcement of a Rhaetian dicynodont, which supports known Norian dicynodonts in Arizona and rhynchosaurs in Brazil and Argentina. Recent published and unpublished studies revising the Late Triassic timescale demonstrate that much of the hypothesized Carnian terrestrial strata worldwide is probably actually Norian, thus at best there are very few Carnian age terrestrial assemblages (e.g., Muttoni et al., 2004; Furin et al., 2004). There is still much work to be done on this mystery and I for one am not quite ready yet to simply attribute it a “lucky break”; however if this is the case then I truly rue what would appear to be a cruel twist of fate, and can only wonder what might have come to pass if the pendulum had swung the other way.
REFERENCES
Brusatte, S.L., Benton, M.J., Ruta, M., and G.T. Lloyd. 2008. Superiority, competition, and opportunism in the evolutionary radiation of dinosaurs. Science 321:1485-1488.
Dzik, J. A beaked herbivorous archosaurs with dinosaur affinities from the early Late Triassic of Poland. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 23:556-574.
Ezcurra, M.D. 2007. A review of the systematic position of the dinosauriform archosaur Eucoelophysis baldwini Sullivan & Lucas, 1999 from the Upper Triassic of New Mexico, USA. Geodiversitas 28:649-684.
Furin, S., Preto, N., Rigo, M., Roghi, G., Gianolla, P., Crowley, J.L., and S. A. Bowring. 2006. High-precision U-Pb zircon age from the Triassic of Italy: Implications for the Triassic time scale and the Carnian origin of calcareous nannoplankton and dinosaurs. Geology 34:1009-1012.
Irmis, R.B., Parker, W.G., Nesbitt, S.J., and J. Liu, 2007a. Early ornithischian dinosaurs: the Triassic Record. Historical Biology 19:3-22.
Irmis, R.B., Nesbitt, S.J., Padian, K., Smith, N.D., Turner, A.H., Woody, D., and A. Downs. 2007b. A Late Triassic dinosauromorph assemblage from New Mexico and the rise of dinosaurs. Science 317:358-361.
Muttoni, G., Kent, D. V., Olsen, P. E., DiStefano, P., Lowrie, W., Bernasconi, S. M., and F. M. Hernández. 2004. Tethyan magnetostratigraphy from Pizzo Mondello (Sicily) and correlation to the Late Triassic Newark astrochronological polarity timescale. Geological Society of America Bulletin 116:1043-1058.
Nesbitt, S.J, and M.A. Norell. 2006. Extreme convergence in the body plans of an
early suchian (Archosauria) and ornithomimid dinosaurs (Theropoda). Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B 273: 1045–1048.
Nesbitt, S.J., Irmis, R.B., and W.G. Parker, 2007. A critical reevaluation of the Late Triassic dinosaur taxa of North America. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 5:209-243.
Parker, W.G., Irmis, R.B., Nesbitt, S.N., Martz, J. W., and L. S. Browne, 2005. The pseudosuchian Revueltosaurus callenderi and its implications for the diversity of early ornithischian dinosaurs. Proceedings of the Royal Society London B 272:963-969.
Today in the new issue of Science, Brusatte et al. provide the results of a multifaceted study addressing this question. They provide a new phylogenetic analysis of the Archosauria (supplementary materials) and compare evolutionary rates and morphological disparity between pseudosuchians and ornithodirans. Interestingly they found that the dinosaurs had lower disparity and represented a lesser amount of morphospace occupation compared to the pseudosuchians. Furthermore rates of character evolution between the two groups were indistinguishable. Previous hypotheses that the dinosaurs were more successful due to physiological superiority and were “preordained for success” are discounted (as was also argued by Irmis et al., 2007b). Instead Brusatte et al., suggest that the “dinosaurs were the beneficiaries of two mass extinction events – and some good luck”.
I admit that I am not surprised at all by their findings, but am probably biased because this trend is readily apparent in North America (where I work) where with the exception of the Hayden and Coelophysis Quarries at Ghost Ranch New Mexico (and trackways in the youngest Triassic units) there is a marked paucity of Triassic dinosaur fossils and an abundance of diverse pseudosuchians. I am a bit flummoxed over the basal positioning of Revueltosaurus in their phylogeny, but this is based on an incomplete coding which I have not thoroughly reviewed.
Overall I find the paper to be a useful contribution in the attempt to discern why such a wonderful diversity of crocodile-line archosaurs lineages was extinguished at the end Triassic. Their data helps quantify some of the trends seen by other workers, especially that the competition model is most likely untenable. However, disproving the competition scenario does not necessarily support the "lucky break" hypothesis. Furthermore, I have not seen strong evidence for a Carnian-Norian terrestrial extinction in the fossil record, a claim that is even more weakened by the recent announcement of a Rhaetian dicynodont, which supports known Norian dicynodonts in Arizona and rhynchosaurs in Brazil and Argentina. Recent published and unpublished studies revising the Late Triassic timescale demonstrate that much of the hypothesized Carnian terrestrial strata worldwide is probably actually Norian, thus at best there are very few Carnian age terrestrial assemblages (e.g., Muttoni et al., 2004; Furin et al., 2004). There is still much work to be done on this mystery and I for one am not quite ready yet to simply attribute it a “lucky break”; however if this is the case then I truly rue what would appear to be a cruel twist of fate, and can only wonder what might have come to pass if the pendulum had swung the other way.
REFERENCES
Brusatte, S.L., Benton, M.J., Ruta, M., and G.T. Lloyd. 2008. Superiority, competition, and opportunism in the evolutionary radiation of dinosaurs. Science 321:1485-1488.
Dzik, J. A beaked herbivorous archosaurs with dinosaur affinities from the early Late Triassic of Poland. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 23:556-574.
Ezcurra, M.D. 2007. A review of the systematic position of the dinosauriform archosaur Eucoelophysis baldwini Sullivan & Lucas, 1999 from the Upper Triassic of New Mexico, USA. Geodiversitas 28:649-684.
Furin, S., Preto, N., Rigo, M., Roghi, G., Gianolla, P., Crowley, J.L., and S. A. Bowring. 2006. High-precision U-Pb zircon age from the Triassic of Italy: Implications for the Triassic time scale and the Carnian origin of calcareous nannoplankton and dinosaurs. Geology 34:1009-1012.
Irmis, R.B., Parker, W.G., Nesbitt, S.J., and J. Liu, 2007a. Early ornithischian dinosaurs: the Triassic Record. Historical Biology 19:3-22.
Irmis, R.B., Nesbitt, S.J., Padian, K., Smith, N.D., Turner, A.H., Woody, D., and A. Downs. 2007b. A Late Triassic dinosauromorph assemblage from New Mexico and the rise of dinosaurs. Science 317:358-361.
Muttoni, G., Kent, D. V., Olsen, P. E., DiStefano, P., Lowrie, W., Bernasconi, S. M., and F. M. Hernández. 2004. Tethyan magnetostratigraphy from Pizzo Mondello (Sicily) and correlation to the Late Triassic Newark astrochronological polarity timescale. Geological Society of America Bulletin 116:1043-1058.
Nesbitt, S.J, and M.A. Norell. 2006. Extreme convergence in the body plans of an
early suchian (Archosauria) and ornithomimid dinosaurs (Theropoda). Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B 273: 1045–1048.
Nesbitt, S.J., Irmis, R.B., and W.G. Parker, 2007. A critical reevaluation of the Late Triassic dinosaur taxa of North America. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 5:209-243.
Parker, W.G., Irmis, R.B., Nesbitt, S.N., Martz, J. W., and L. S. Browne, 2005. The pseudosuchian Revueltosaurus callenderi and its implications for the diversity of early ornithischian dinosaurs. Proceedings of the Royal Society London B 272:963-969.
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